MONTICELLO, Ark. - In a heated Thursday night Great American Conference rivalry game that featured nine lead changes and eight tied scores, it was one big shot that separated two longtime Natural State foes inside Steelman Fieldhouse. Arkansas-Monticello's Zane Nelson, with the shot clock evaporating, hit a step back dagger trifecta from the right wing with 54 seconds remaining to put the host up 63-59 and the Weevils finished out Southern Arkansas at the stripe to take the first meeting of the season between the two squads, 67-61. The loss snaps SAU's three-game winning streak and drops the Muleriders into a three-way tie for sixth place, while the victory moves the Weevils above .500 in league play and into a three-way tie for third place.
 
Two of the GAC's top scorers were at work on Thursday night for UAM as Nelson finished with 28 points, while Isaac Jackson scored 25 points. The Weevils did not benefit from, nor need, a single bench point. Southern Arkansas was led by four double-figure scorers as Carel Ray Jr. went for 13 points and seven rebounds while Gregory Hammond Jr., Anthony Igiede and Cedric Garrett each contributed a dozen.
 
Ray Jr. used a board-crashing tip-in to pull SAU to within 63-61 late and an impressive turnaround jumper by the senior just prior to the under-4 media timeout knotted the game at 55.
 
The Muleriders led 34-32 at the intermission despite UAM shooting nearly 60% from the floor in the opening twenty minutes. SAU struggled from beyond-the-arc in the second half, netting just two of its dozen attempts.
 
The Muleriders will aim to move back into the win column on Saturday when it meets Henderson State in a 3 p.m. start from inside the Duke Wells Center. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.