Game Notes

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team returns to Tucker Coliseum as well as Great American Conference play this weekend, playing host to Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Nazarene.

THE MATCHUPS
Arkansas Tech will face Oklahoma Baptist at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Southern Nazarene at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.

THE BACKSTORY
The Wonder Boys started their season with a split - topping Northern State (81-80) in the season opener before falling 80-78 in overtime to No. 9 Minnesota State Moorhead. After opening GAC play with a loss at Southwestern Oklahoma (88-63), Tech snuck past Northwestern Oklahoma (70-69) on the road before returning home to top Missouri Southern (75-72). 

THE OKLAHOMA BAPTIST SERIES
Arkansas Tech and Oklahoma Baptist have only met four times in program history - with OBU winning all four meetings. The two teams played each year from 1968-71, before the series went on hiatus for 22 years. The two teams met again in 1993 with OBU taking a 74-68 win - and the two teams have not faced off since. OBU has never played inside Tucker Coliseum.

THE SOUTHERN NAZARENE SERIES
Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene have faced one another six times over the years, with Tech holding a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. After splitting games in 1983 and 1984, the series went on hiatus until SNU joined the Great American Conference. Since the 12-13 season, Tech's advantage is 4-2. SNU has never won inside Tucker Coliseum.

SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
Arkansas Tech (3-2, 1-1 Great American Conference) has been involved in incredibly close contests in all but one game this year. Removing the Southwestern Oklahoma game from consideration, the remaining four games have been decided by a combined seven points. The Wonder Boys have been led offensively by the play of Marquis Yates, who averages 14.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Tyler Corley (10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) is also in double figures while Nick Wayman (9.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Andrew Guillory (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) have also played a key role for the Wonder Boys thus far this season.

SCOUTING THE BISON
Oklahoma Baptist (3-1, 1-1 GAC) has won two straight games entering this week's conference matchups. The Bison picked up a win over Bethany College (69-61) in the opener before falling 78-58 to Ouachita Baptist. After knocking off Henderson State (61-57) in the back end of the conference series, OBU topped Jarvis Christian (69-55) in its most recent game. Today's game with Arkansas Tech marks the first time OBU has ventured away from Shawnee this season. The Bison are led on both ends by Steven Green, who averages 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. Vladimir Nemcok (10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.8 apg) and Chandler Rickey (10.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) also rank among OBU's leaders - with Rickey proving to be quite the shot blocker as well, blocking 11 shots in four games.

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON STORM
Southern Nazarene (3-3, 2-0 Great American Conference) dropped a pair of non-conference matchups to open the season, falling to Nebraska-Kearney (95-80) and Lindenwood (86-79) before coming back with a pair of wins in their first GAC games. SNU picked up home wins over Henderson State (83-70) and Ouachita Baptist (87-74) before splitting its most recent non-conference matchups - falling to Oklahoma Christian (92-91) and beating Central Oklahoma (79-74). An offensive-minded squad, SNU is led by the tandem of CJ Rodriguez (19.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and LB Willis (19.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Francisco Hukill (12.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Garrett Butler (11.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and C.J. White (9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg) round out the starting five for SNU. 

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Arkansas Tech will host a pair of benefit games this weekend - Thursday's doubleheader will be canned food drive, giving fans admission to the games for $1 while Saturday's game is a Toys for Tots event - fans bringing a new, unwrapped toy will get in for free.

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