MONTICELLO, Ark. – A gritty effort allowed SWOSU to overcome an eight-point deficit with less than eight minutes to play and force overtime, where they fell just short in a 98-96 loss to Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night at Steelman Field House.
 
SWOSU led for just 1:04 in the game, but they forced five ties in the final 2:35, starting with a three-pointer from Dominique Primer that knotted the score at 74-all. The teams would then trade three-pointers, free throws and technical fouls before Jaylan Williams tied things up at 81-all with 44 seconds to play. Following two more free throws for the Weevils, Damion Thornton scored the final game-tying basket with 14 seconds left to force overtime.
 
Monticello scored the first five points in overtime and held an advantage of at least three points the entire period until Bralyn James hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the final margin to two.
 
Damion Thornton led the way for his team with a monster double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds to go along with three assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Three other Bulldogs reached double figures as Jaylan Williams scored 16, Bralyn James had 12 and Marquis Johnson posted 11 points.
 
SWOSU (5-6, 1-4 GAC) returns to action on Saturday in Magnolia, facing Southern Arkansas at 3:00 pm.