Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – A 17-point effort by D.J. Jethroe and a 15-point performance by Mike Balogun were not enough for the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (4-5, 0-2 Great American Conference) to overcome hot second-half shooting by Henderson State (5-3, 3-1 GAC), as the Wonder Boys dropped a 69-63 decision to the Reddies on Saturday at the Duke Wells Center.
 
A 3-pointer by Tyler Friedel just 94 seconds into the game put the Wonder Boys ahead, and Tech would lead by as many as nine points (27-18) with 2:23 to go until halftime. However, the Reddies used a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to three (27-24) with 52 seconds to play.
 
Balogun hit a pair of free throws with 52 seconds to play in the half, giving the Wonder Boys a five-point (29-24) lead that they would carry into the half.
 
After the first three minutes of the second half came and went with no points scored, Reggie Murphy hit a layup to pull HSU to within three, but Balogun quickly answered with a long 3-pointer to take Tech's lead to six (32-26) with 16:45 to go.
 
A 10-0 run by the Reddies put Henderson State ahead for the first time in the contest, and HSU led by four (38-34) at the 14:05 mark before Arkansas Tech used a 5-0 run, capped by a 3-point play by Gary Gaskins to briefly pull ahead again (39-38).
 
HSU's Daniel Cheek's dunk on the following possession gave the Reddies the lead, and kick-started a 14-2 run that saw the Reddies push the lead into double-digits (52-41). Henderson led by as many as 12 (58-46) after an Aaron Cooper 3-pointer, before the Wonder Boys began a late charge. Tech cut the deficit to five (59-54) with 1:05 to play, but the Reddies' cushion was sufficient, as Tech was able to get as close as four points (67-63) with three seconds to play.
 
HSU outshot Tech 44.0 to 43.1 percent, while the Wonder Boys held a 32-30 advantage on the rebounding glass. The Reddies shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from beyond the arc in the second half, while the Wonder Boys were forced into 21 turnovers.
 
Arkansas Tech will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 13, hosting Southern Arkansas at Tucker Coliseum. A 3 p.m. tip is scheduled. The game will be carried live on KWKK-FM (100.9) in Russellville, with live video, audio, and stats available at www.arkansastechsports.com.