RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Tyler Corley scored a team-high 21 points, Andrew Guillory added 17, and Mason Cline came off the bench to pour in 16 more as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (10-8, 5-7 Great American Conference) rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to take an 82-78 win over Southwestern Oklahoma (11-7, 7-5 GAC) on Thursday night at Tucker Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SWOSU controlled the pace through the opening minutes, opening the game on a 13-3 run to take a 10-point lead just over four minutes into the contest.
• The Wonder Boys were able to cut the SWOSU lead to four (27-23) with 7:01 to play until half after a pair of free throws by Freddy Lee, but SWOSU stretched its lead back out to 15 (40-25) courtesy of another 13-2 run and settled into halftime with a 45-31 advantage.
•  SWOSU gained its largest lead of the contest at 16 points (49-33) with 19:19 to play.
• As Tech cut into the SWOSU lead, the Wonder Boys narrowed the deficit to single digits when a 3-pointer by Corley brought Tech within seven (54-47) with 14:50 to play.
• SWOSU once again stretched its lead to double digits (59-49) with 12:54 to play, but the Wonder Boys scored seven consecutive points to pull to within three (59-56) with 10:50 to play.
• All in all, the Wonder Boys used a 17-3 run to claim their first lead of the second half at 63-62 with 8:08 to play.
• After SWOSU reclaimed the advantage briefly, going ahead by three (69-66) with 5:13 to play, Tech used a 7-0 run to claim a four-point lead (73-69) with 3:27 to play.
• The Bulldogs would twice pull to within one after 3-pointers in the final two minutes, but Tech would hold the Bulldogs off the board for the final 25 seconds of the game to hold on for the win.

NOTABLES

• SWOSU outshot Tech 55.9 percent to 39.3 percent in the first half.
• Tech turned around its shooting issues in the second half – shooting 70 percent both from the floor and from 3-point range.
• Tech outscored SWOSU 31-12 in bench points – led mostly by Cline and Lee (13 points).
• Tech outrebounded SWOSU 37-26, including 32-21 on the defensive glass.
• Tech took advantage of its trips to the charity stripe, connecting on 20 of 28 from the line.
• Clines five baskets were all from beyond the arc.
• Bryson Fletcher, Corley, and Lee all had five assists.
• Southwestern Oklahoma has not won inside Tucker Coliseum since 2003.

 COACH KLINE SAYS

• On rallying from the 16-point second-half deficit - "I didn't get anything done. I can't get rebounds or make baskets. These guys bought in.  I know it's only one win, but this stretch since we have last won a game has seemed like forever. When we went into halftime, I said 'Hey, we're only down 14 and that's a lot better than the last time we played them.' They chuckled, but I didn't sense any panic or fear. These guys have totally bought in. Our last three days of practices have been all-out. We got after it in practice. These guys are tired of losing. I'm proud of our guys for stepping up, making plays late and getting a victory. One thing that sticks out is the rebounding. This is one team that in the past we've always struggled against in rebounding. They're big and athletic, and for us to out-rebound them by double-digits, I'm extremely happy."
• On the play of Mason Cline – "I told them on Monday, there's 10 guys in this room. There are no guaranteed spot. If you practice well for three days you're going to get a run. I thought going in we'd get him a run in the first half and if he made a couple shots, we'd go back to him in the second half. We always talk about it – when you put the Tech jersey on, and you get in the game, you're expected to perform. You'll probably see more of him Saturday."
• On the defensive strategy – "I'll give all the credit on that to coach (Prince) Johnson. Southwestern Oklahoma was his scout. I told him on Sunday we knew what they'd do against zone – I told him to get all their man-to-man stuff and have a game plan on Monday, and when I came in he had it all laid out. I give him 100 percent credit on that."

WHO'S NEXT

• The Wonder Boys will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 30, concluding their three-game homestand against Northwestern Oklahoma. A 3 p.m. tip is scheduled.