Box Score BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — D.J. Jethroe came off the bench to score 21 points, while Clarence Willard turned in a 17-point performance as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team (1-0) rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 69-62 win over Wayne State (Neb.) on Friday at the Bruin Field House.

The Wonder Boys held Wayne State off the board for the first six minutes of the game, taking an early 5-0 lead before the Wildcats reached the scoreboard for the first time, as Patrick Kurth's layup cut the Wonder Boys' lead to 5-2 with 13:39 to play in the opening half.

Jethroe connected from long-range on the very next possession to give Tech an early 8-2 lead, and the Wonder Boys would push ahead by as many as 11 points (15-4) with 9:30 to play in the half. However, the Wildcats finished the first half strong, ending the opening period of play on a 23-5 run to take a 27-20 lead into the half.

The Wonder Boys would answer the run in a big way to open the second half, as Tech scored the first seven points of the half to tie the game at 27-27 with 18:17 to play after a 3-pointer by Jethroe. The two teams would trade leads over the next three minutes, but Willard hit a pair of free throws to first tie the game and then give Arkansas Tech a 34-33 lead with 15:18 to play in the contest, and the Wonder Boys would not trail again.

Tech's lead was as small as two points (48-46) with just under nine minutes to play, but the Wonder Boys used an 11-2 run, capped by another Jethroe 3-pointer to push its lead into double digits with under five minutes to go.

The Wonder Boys would hold the Wildcats at arm's length the remainder of the way to seal the victory.

Nick Wayman led all Wonder Boys with seven rebounds, as the Wonder Boys were outrebounded 46-41 by the Wildcats in the contest. However, Tech outshot Wayne State 40.4 to 30.0 percent, including shooting for a 56.0 percent clip in the second half.

Jay Murphy led the Wonder Boys with nine assists, while the Wonder Boys outscored Wayne State in the paint 24-16 and in transition 6-0.

Arkansas Tech will conclude play in Bartlesville on Saturday, facing Southwest Minnesota State at 2 p.m.