Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – One year after squaring off in the final of the Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championships, Arkansas-Monticello and East Central met in the closing quarterfinal contest. The two engaged in marathon as the Weevils scored a 97-86 victory in double overtime on Friday from Bruin Fieldhouse.
 
The Weevils (18-11) built up 13-point second-half at halftime thanks to shooting 58.1 percent from the floor and 5-of-9 from the 3-point arc. Keelin Jackson went a perfect 3-for-3 on his 3-point tries. The UAM starters accounted for 40 of the 44 points.
 
ECU (15-12) chipped away of the course of the second half and finally drew even on a Tyler Armstrong layup with just over two minutes left in regulation. Derylton Hill put the Weevils back up by two points with 1:34 left.  Marcus Lytle converted a second-chance opportunity to even the game at 74 with 15.7 seconds left. After forcing a turnover, the Tigers got the final shot of regulation, but Lytle’s jumper missed off target.
 
In the overtime, the fourth in GAC Championship history, the Tigers established their first lead of the game on a basket from Camron Talley. They held a three-point lead in the final minute before Jackson made a 3-pointer, his fourth of the game, from the top of the key with 37 seconds left. Lytle missed a driving layup and Jackson could not connect on a last-second 3-point try and thus the game headed to a second overtime.
 
The Weevils asserted control, scoring the first 12 points of the second overtime session, six coming from Hill. He finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds – all after halftime – and five assists. Cobe Goosby added 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. UAM outrebounded ECU, 46-31. Talley led ECU with 27.
                                                                                                   
The Weevils will face Northwestern Oklahoma State in Saturday’s second semifinal, set to tip off at 2:15. The Rangers won both regular-season contests, 83-78 at home and 69-68 in Monticello. UAM will attempt to join Arkansas Tech as the only men’s programs to play in consecutive title games. The Wonder Boys won the inaugural title in 2012 and lost to Ouachita in 2013.