Box Score WICHITA – The Newman men's basketball team came up short in an 83-78 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday (Jan. 11) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets dropped to 4-10 and 1-5 in the Heartland Conference, and the Lions moved to 11-3 and 4-2.
 
Trailing by five with 4 minutes remaining, Trae Beck hit a 3-pointer and was fouled on the shot. The four-point play pulled NU to within one, 75-74.
 
After a missed Lion layup, Marquis Cuyler gave the Jets a 74-73 lead at the 3:43 with two made free throws. A UAFS basket put them back up 75-74 with 3:21 left.
 
Elhad Emerllahu put NU up 76-75 with a layup at the 2:54 mark. A foul by Beck in the backcourt put UAFS at the free throw line, and Xavier McClish made 1-of-2 to tie the score at 76-76.
 
With a layup at the 2:13 mark, UAFS took a 78-76 advantage. Ryan McCarthy knocked down two free throws to tie the score back up at 78-78 with 1:03 remaining.
 
Seth Youngblood of UAFS hit a layup with 48 seconds remaining to put the Lions in front 80-78. On the next Jets' possession, missed a tough layup in the lane, and UAFS got the rebound.
 
With 18 seconds remaining, Youngblood went 1-of-2 from the free throw line, giving the Jets a chance in their final possession.
 
A Cuyler 3-pointer from the top of the key fell short, and the Lions controlled the rebound.
 
Emerllahu totaled a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Cuyler added 14 points and seven rebounds. Jeremy Espinoza hit double figures with 12 points and a game-high three steals.
 
UAFS's Kenny Martin tallied a game-high 27 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. He added four blocks, including one on the final Cuyler 3-point attempt. Youngblood scored 15 points.
 
The Jets hit the road for their next two games. NU takes on Dallas Baptist on Thursday (Jan. 16) at 7 p.m. and then goes to Oklahoma Christian on Saturday (Jan. 18) for a 3 p.m. game.