Seth Grandberry scored 20 points in 40 minutes, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team entertained a crowd of elementary students for its annual Billie Ball Game with a 66-60 win over Champion Christian College on Thursday afternoon.
The students from Monticello Elementary and Intermediate schools made up most of the 963 in attendance and saw Grandberry, a sophomore transfer from Bishop State Community College in Alabama, collect 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Devin Davis had 12 points and Harouna Sissoko had 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Boll Weevils (1-2).
Champion (0-5) was tied with UAM at 33-all at halftime. The game saw 6 ties but only 2 lead changes, both early in the second half. The Tigers led by as much as 54-48 with 6:45 left, but the Weevils went ahead for good at 56-54 on a Davis jump shot with 4:56 left.
UAM’s largest lead was 7 points on two occasions in the first half.
Christian Blair scored 18 points, K.J. Younge had 16 and Adrian Brown totaled 14 for Champion.
UAM will continue the homestand with a 6 p.m. Tuesday tipoff against Arkansas Baptist College and 3 p.m. game Nov. 23 against Ecclesia College.
Women: UAM 85, Crowley’s Ridge 59 (Wed.)
On Wednesday Bailey Harris scored 13 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in just 20 minutes for the UAM women’s basketball team in a 26-point home win over Crowley’s Ridge College.
Kennedee Shelton totaled 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Alindsey Long and Cha’Myrean Ellis each scored 10 points for the Cotton Blossoms (2-1) in their home opener.
UAM led 50-37 at halftime and was ahead by as many as 30 points.
“I was pleased with how we especially adjusted in the second half,” Blossoms Coach David Midlick said on UAM video. “We had 9 turnovers at halftime and we only had 6 turnovers in the second half. I thought we did a better job guarding their screening action, and we made their shots a little more difficult in the second half.”
The Blossoms limited the Pioneers (0-1) to 28.6% (16 of 56) field-goal shooting, but the Pioneers made 21 of 25 free throws. UAM shot 41.3% (31 of 75) from the floor and made 14 of 19 free throws.
Jordan Rasmussen led Crowley’s Ridge (0-1) with 14 points, and Brooklyn Kearbey dropped in 11.
The Blossoms return to action Friday to host Auburn University Montgomery. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
