FORT SMITH, Ark. — Looking to run its conference win streak to three games, the Newman men's basketball team ran into tough opposition at Arkansas-Fort Smith, falling 98-84 thanks to a late run by the Lions Saturday in Heartland Conference action.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (4-8, 2-1 Heartland) were locked in a close one throughout against the Lions (8-6, 2-1 Heartland), but an 11-1 run by the hosts took it from a 67-64 Newman lead to a 75-68 lead for UAFS, an advantage it held onto for the rest of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-UAFS got out to a hot start, going up by as much as 11-3 at the first media timeout of the game. The Jets responded immediately with layups from Daniel Green and Kevin Bryant to slash that lead to 11-7.
-After the Lions went back up by nine, Newman answered with a powerful burst, as Jacob Birnbaum started with a layup and Daniel Nwosu and Allen Wilson following with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an 8-0 run in less than a minute. That run extended to 16-3 after another Wilson trey, one by Taylor Schieber and a bucket by Pierre Hayden to make it 23-19 in favor of the Jets at the 8:31 mark.
-UAFS managed to get back in front for much of the final five minutes of the half. A Schieber jumper cut it to 33-32, and another Birnbaum basket followed by a Nwosu 3-pointer gave the Jets a 39-38 lead with 1:54 on the clock. The hosts managed to get back on top and lead it 42-39 at the break.
-Nwosu's 3-pointer two minutes into the second half was followed by a Bryant lay-in to tie it up at 47-47. Newman tied it four more times until another Bryant basket, off a feed from Wilson, gave the guests the lead at 55-53 with 14:22 to go.
-The lead varied, but the Jets stayed on top for the next four minutes as each team hit their shots. The Lions went up with their 11-1 run that covered three minutes. Newman was able to slash into that lead though, as Schieber netted five straight points to cut it to a two-point game at 75-73 with 5:48 to go.
-Another Nwosu 3-pointer and two free throws by Green both made it a seven-point game in the final three minutes, but UAFS closed strong to hold on for the win.
LEADERS
Newman
Points: Nwosu 24. Rebounds: Bryant 9. Assists: Nwosu, Allen 3. Steals: 3 with 2. Blocks: Birnbaum 1.
Arkansas-Fort Smith
Points: Kyree Elder 20. Rebounds: Ladarius Coleman 13. Assists: 2 with 5. Steals: Marcus Wallace 3. Blocks: 2 with 1.
NOTES
-There were 10 ties and eight lead changes in a wild, back-and-forth game.
-Nwosu's 24 points was a season-high for the senior, also getting new season bests with eight field goals and five 3-pointers.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets look to get back on a win streak with a short trip to take on Rogers State Monday afternoon in the team's first matchup of the new year.
