RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — After suffering a loss Thursday to open Great American Conference play, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team finishes off its first league roadtrip of the season with a 3 p.m. tipoff at Northwestern Oklahoma.

SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS

After splitting two close games to start the season in the GAC/NSIC Crossover, the Wonder Boys (1-2, 0-1 GAC) fell 88-63 to Southwestern Oklahoma to start their conference season. After averaging 79.5 points per game on opening weekend, the loss dropped Tech's scoring average to 74.0. Junior Marquis Yates leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg, including a 30-point effort against Minnesota State Moorhead. Eight different Wonder Boys are putting up at least five points a game, with senior Nick Wayman second on the squad with 9.3 and juniors Thomas Alexander and Jerry Owens putting up 8.7 and 8.3, respectively. Wayman leads the team with 7.7 rebounds and has grabbed at least six boards in each game, and is shooting 43.8 percent from deep.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Rangers (0-3, 0-1 GAC) dropped two close games to MIAA foes to start the season, and opened conference play with an 82-63 loss at the hands of Harding Thursday night. Adrian Motley poured in 28 points against the Bisons, hitting 11-of-23 from the field and grabbing seven rebounds. Motley is averaging 19.3 points per game to lead the Rangers, one of four players in double figures. Laakeem Henderson puts up 14.0 ppg and pulls in 4.3 rebounds, Zach Dumas adds 13.0 points and T'aries Taylor chips in with 10.7. Brandon Green leads the squad with 6.3 assists per game and is second with 6.7 rebounds.

HISTORY LESSON

Tech has won six of the seven matchups all-time against NWOSU, including all six in GAC play. The Wonder Boys swept the season series from the Rangers a year ago, winning 76-58 in Alva, Oklahoma and 83-63 at Tucker Coliseum. In the six meetings over the past six years, Tech has won by an average margin of 13.8.

NOTES

• Ten players have appeared in all three games for the Wonder Boys, with all three averaging 10 minutes or more.
• Eight different players have attempted at least 10 field goals on the season. Senior DeChriston McKinney leads the team with a 50-percent shooting percentage, while Owens has hit at a 44.4-percent clip.

COVERAGE

The game will be carried live on 102.3 FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.arkansastechsports.com.

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