RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Wonder Boys basketball opens the 2016-17 regular season on Thursday, as Tech host Southwestern Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. in Tucker Coliseum. Arkansas Tech follows with a home contest against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 

SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
Arkansas Tech (0-0, 0-0 GAC) have played in two exhibition games this season, winning one of two. The Wonder Boys lost by a last-second layup against Division I Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 7, but defeated professional development team Livin' The Dream, 120-73, last Saturday.
 
Trevon Woods led the Wonder Boys with 24 points in the first exhibition, and Montrell Williams followed with 20 points. Tech received 42 points from its bench, and the Wonder Boys held a lead for 27 of the 40 minutes. Against Livin' The Dream, Branden Williams came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points. Seven players scored in double figures for the Wonder Boys, including Benny Lufile, who scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
 
The Wonder Boys were picked to finish sixth in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll.
 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Southwestern (0-2, 0-0 GAC) is coming off two losses to start the regular season, dropping home contests to No. 18 Augustana and Washburn. Through two contests, Devin Pugh leads the Bulldogs with 14.5 points per game. Reshardd Harris averages 7.5 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds.
 
As a team, Southwestern is shooting 35.3 percent from the floor and 28.9 percent from three-point range. Augustana and Washburn posted a combined 45.5 field-goal percentage.
 
Southwestern was picked seventh, just behind Tech, in the GAC Preseason Poll.
 

SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Northwestern (1-1, 0-0 GAC) defeated Northeastern State, 91-80, on Sunday for the team's first win of the season. The Rangers fell, 77-68, to Central Oklahoma last Friday to begin the regular season.
 
In two games, the Rangers are shooting a combined 46.5 field-goal percentage, including 41.7 percent from deep. Adrian Motley averages a team-best 15 points per game, while Cody Halvorson and Zachary Dumas follow with 12 points each. Motley also leads NWOSU with 8.5 rebounds per contest.
 
In the GAC Preseason Poll, Northwestern was picked to finish ninth.
 

HISTORY LESSON
Tech leads the all-time series between Southwestern, 16-10. The Wonder Boys have won five of the previous six meetings, including a series split last season.
 
Against the Rangers, Tech is 5-2 in program history. Northwestern defeated the Wonder Boys, 86-70, last season to earn its first win over Tech since 1971.
 

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