Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — D.J. Jethroe turned in a 19-point, six-rebound effort, while Jay Murphy added 18 points, as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (6-5, 2-2 Great American Conference) held off a late rally by Southwestern Oklahoma (6-4, 1-3 GAC), topping the Bulldogs 69-65 on Wednesday night at Tucker Coliseum.

The two teams battled through the first half, with the Wonder Boys opening as much as a seven-point lead (13-6) with 11:14 to play. SWOSU battled back, using a 14-7 run to knot the game at 20-20 with 4:35 to play. However, the Wonder Boys scored the next seven points and took a six-point (32-26) lead into the half.

Tech pushed its lead into the double digits early in the second half, leading by as many as 12 points (39-27) with 16:13 to play. The Bulldogs used a 13-2 run to pull to within two (42-40) with 13:24 to play, and SWOSU would claim the lead with 9:57 to play on a transition layup by Richard McCalop.

The lead was short-lived as Nick Wayman hit a pair of free throws 15 seconds later that put the Wonder Boys ahead. The Bulldogs would tie the contest three more times down the stretch, the last time coming at the 55 second mark on a 3-pointer by Trent Washington, but the Wonder Boys reclaimed the lead for good with 31 seconds to play on a jumper by Jethroe, and Murphy pushed the Tech lead to its final margin with a pair of free throws with 11 seconds to play.

Jethroe led the Wonder Boys with six rebounds, while Bryson Fletcher and Tyler Friedel added four apiece. SWOSU held a 44-38 advantage in rebounding glass, while Tech led 16-14 in points in the paint, 9-3 on points off turnovers, and 33-22 in bench points.

The Wonder Boys will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 20, facing Stephen F. Austin in an exhibition contest. Tip-off from Nacogdoches, Texas is set for 2 p.m.