Game Notes

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team will look to get back on the winning track with its return to Great American Conference play this weekend, as Arkansas Tech plays host to GAC newcomer Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Nazarene in a pair of league games this week.

THE MATCHUPS
Arkansas Tech will face Oklahoma Baptist at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. 

THE BACKSTORY
The Golden Suns started the season with four consecutive wins, including a pair of wins in GAC matchups before suffering their first loss of the season - a 72-57 setback at Delta State. 

THE OKLAHOMA BAPTIST SERIES
Conference newcomer Oklahoma Baptist has faced off against the Golden Suns three times - with OBU capturing wins in two of those three matchups. OBU won the first two meetings between the teams - in 1984 and 1987 - with the Golden Suns winning the most recent game in the series 66-42 in Russellville. 

THE SOUTHERN NAZARENE SERIES
The Golden Suns hold a 9-4 lead in the all-time series with the two teams dating back to the 1985 season. Tech has been dominant in the series since the founding of the Great American Conference, with the Golden Suns winning five of six meetings. SNU's last win in the series was a 99-80 win in 2013. The Crimson Storm has never won a game in Russellville. 

SCOUTING THE SUNS
No. 20 Arkansas Tech (4-1, 2-0 Great American Conference) has outscored its opponents by just under 18 points per game this season - averaging 85.0 points to 67.2 points for the opposition. The Golden Suns have been winning by taking good care of the basketball and by preventing the opposition from doing the same - Tech averages 17.0 assists per game to opponents' 10.8 while forcing 19.4 turnovers per contest (and committing just 13.8). Tech senior Fatima Adams (23.4 ppg, 11.0 rpg) has been the unquestioned offensive leader of the Golden Suns, but has been backed by a talented cast of players including returners Anissa Pounds and Danielle Frachiseur, as well as newcomer Calli White - all of whom average 10.0 points per game. 

SCOUTING THE BISON
Oklahoma Baptist (2-3, 1-1 GAC) enters this weekend's GAC matchups having won two of its last three games. After a pair of losses to open the season against Missouri Southern (72-63) and No. 1 Emporia State (80-63), OBU opened conference play with a win over the other OBU - Ouachita Baptist, winning 75-56 in Shawnee. After a three-point setback to Henderson State (77-74) in the back-end of their weekend series, OBU came back with an 81-43 win over USAO in a non-conference tilt on Monday, Nov. 23. Today's game will be OBU's first true road game of the season (the first two games were neutral-site contests). Three players have reached double figures regularly for OBU - sophomore McKenzie Cooper's 18.0 points per game leads all players. The returning honorable mention all-America selection averages 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Katy Custer (11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Arielle Cooper (10.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) are consistent offensive threats while Cameerah Graves (9.0 ppg, 7.2 apg, 5.6 rpg) sets the tone for the offense from the point position.

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON STORM
Southern Nazarene (2-1, 1-1 GAC) will make a trip through Searcy to play Harding on Thursday before coming to Tucker Coliseum for Saturday's matinee. The Crimson Storm were scheduled to play a post-Thanksgiving non-conference matchup at Newman that was cancelled due to the recent ice storm hitting Kansas. Instead, SNU returns to conference play on a two-game win streak. After a season-opening loss to Henderson State (71-60), SNU topped Ouachita 75-62 and Midwestern State (68-56) prior to Thanksgiving. 

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.