Box Score MEMPHIS—After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Christian Brothers University Bucs rallied to as close as one point in the final minute before losing 61-58 to Arkansas-Monticello Saturday night at Canale Arena in the Gulf South Conference West Division opener for both schools.

The Boll Weevils (6-5, 1-0) used a 15-4 run over 10 minutes of the first half to take a 25-15 lead on a Nick Carey three-pointer with 2:46 remaining in the half.  The Bucs answered with a quick 9-0 burst to pull within a point on a Michael Drake (Little Rock, Ark./Catholic HS) three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

A Derrick Robinson three-pointer as the first half expired gave the Boll Weevils a 28-24 halftime lead, and it sparked a 23-10 run, capped by a Gil Verner three-pointer with 9:37 remaining, that gave UAM its biggest lead of the night, 48-34 with 9:37 remaining.

The Bucs answered quickly.  A Scott Dennis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) layup was followed by back-to-back Kevin Doran (Memphis, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) three-pointers to cut the margin to 48-42 with 7:55 remaining.  Kyle Couvion (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville HS) scored a three and a layup to trim the margin to 50-47 with 5:32 remaining, but the Bucs couldn't pull closer than three until the final minute.

Doran buried a three-pointer with 32 seconds remaining to cut the margin to two.  After two Verner free throws, Drake made another three to bring the Bucs within a single point, 59-58, with 15 seconds remaining.  DeAngelo McIntosh made two free throws, and UAM's Derek Easter blocked a potential Zack Warner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton HS) game-tying three-pointer as time expired.

Drake and Warner led the Bucs with 14 points each, while Doran scored 11 off the bench. 

Verner scored a game-high 18 for the Boll Weevils.  Jarrell Turner added 13, while Carey contributed 11.

The Boll Weevils shot a blistering 52.3 percent (23-of-44), 13 percent above CBU's average defensive field goal percentage coming into the game, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from three-point range.    The Bucs were 51.2 percent (22-of-43), and they shot 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from three-point range.

UAM out-rebounded the Bucs 25-18, including a 9-4 edge in offensive boards.  CBU forced a dozen turnovers while committing nine.

The Bucs will return to the court Thursday night at 7 p.m. as they welcome Ouachita Baptist to Canale Arena.