SHAWNEE – Harrison Stoddart netted a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to send the Noble Complex into a frenzy and lift Oklahoma Baptist (18-7, 15-4 GAC) over Arkansas-Monticello (10-14, 6-12 GAC) 63-62 on Thursday night.
The game-winner accounted for three of OBU's five points in the final 2:37 of the contest, as the Bison had to claw their way out of a shooting slump to best a resilient Boll Weevil squad late.
In fact, the Boll Weevils scored more in the last 10 minutes, edging the Bison 40-36.3 percent in field-goal percentage during the stretch. Unfortunately, UAM didn't have Stoddart.
The teams were neck-and-neck early, as Arkansas Monticello grabbed a lead and held it for 10 minutes. Next, Burke Putnam gave OBU the advantage, giving the Bison their first lead of the night, 17-16.
Oklahoma Baptist mounted a subtle 7-2 run to extend their tally to four, 22-18, but UAM came roaring back. The Boll Weevils came within one at the 5:26 mark and proceeded to take back the lead, courtesy of a Cole Anderson hook shot.
Putnam regained control for the Bison before Arkansas-Monticello tied the match 31-all. In the last 2:38 of basketball, OBU went 2-for-4 from the field, including a layup from Putnam at the horn to send Oklahoma Baptist into the break with a 36-33 lead. Putnam and Thompson garnered 12 and 11 points of the OBU's first-half total.
It wasn't long before UAM made things interesting again, tying the ball game at 42, five minutes into the final stanza.
The next possession, Justin Tene earned the lead back, but had it taken away as Wesley Booker collected a triple for a Boll Weevil 45-44 advantage. But again, Tene took it back.
This lead stood for 9:10 before Jesse White hit from deep to tie the contest 58-all. The teams sat gridlocked at 58 for the next 2:56 of action until UAM caught fire.
Arkansas Monticello went on a 4-0 run to go up 62-58 with 1:33 left. Then Brantly Thompson made his way to the free-throw line to cash in on two, bringing the Bison deficit down a couple of points.
A Nigel Wilcox steal would set up the final shot, as Putnam found Stoddart in the corner for the win.
Putnam finished with a team-best 18 points, including a 4-for-4 showing at the charity stripe. Thompson poured in 16 points and four triples while Stoddart turned in eight points.
Nigel Wilcox and D.J. Freeman brought down five boards and scored eight and five. Wilcox shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the field and garnered three steals. Justin Tene produced valuable reserve minutes, pitching in six on 3-of-4 shooting.
UAM's Cole Anderson finished with 16 points, shooting 66 percent from the floor. Jesse White and Ray Price added 14 apiece to round off the Boll Weevils' double-digit scorers.
Next up for the Bison is Senior night on Saturday. OBU will take on a red-hot Southern Arkansas squad at 3:00 p.m. inside the Noble Complex.
