RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech men's basketball continues conference play this Thursday and Saturday, taking on Ouachita and Southern Arkansas. The Wonder Boys host Ouachita in Tucker Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, before traveling to Magnolia for a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday against Southern Arkansas.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio, video and statistics for both games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com. The games will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tech has a 73-82 all-time record against Ouachita, dating back to the 1926-27 season when Arkansas Tech won the first meeting. The Wonder Boys also won the latest contest, coming on Feb. 11, 2016. Against Southern Arkansas, Tech has a 92-69 edge in the all-time series, including a win on Feb. 13 of last season.
 
SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
Arkansas Tech (7-3, 3-3 GAC) sits alone in eighth place in the GAC. Tech defeated Southeastern Oklahoma last Thursday but fell to East Central on Saturday. The Wonder Boys have the highest-scoring offense in the conference, averaging nearly 89 points per contest.
 
Offense has carried the Wonder Boys this season, as Tech ranks 22^nd in Division II in scoring and sixth in three-pointers made per game. Arkansas Tech commits just 12.2 turnovers per game, the lowest in the GAC. The Wonder Boys have been able to score at a high rate in part due to nearly 13 offensive rebounds per game, highest in the conference.
 
Alex Brown is seventh in the GAC in scoring at 16.4 points per game. Bennie Lufile leads the frontcourt for the Wonder Boys, averaging 13.0 points and a GAC-best 10.4 rebounds per game. Lufile also ranks fourth in the nation with 4.8 offensive boards per game. Montrell Williams scores 13.8 points per contest, and Justin Graham averages 10.9 points and ranks first in the GAC with 6.4 assists. Grant Prusator is third in the GAC in three-pointers made per game.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Ouachita (6-4, 4-2 GAC) is coming off two conference wins last week, as the Tigers defeated Northwestern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma. Ouachita currently sits one game ahead of Arkansas Tech in the Great American Conference standings.
 
The Tigers rank just ninth in the GAC in scoring and eighth in scoring defense. Lakee Westbrook leads Ouachita and ranks seventh in the conference with 16.4 points per game. Westbrook is second in the GAC and 25^th in Division II in free-throw shooting, netting 90 percent from the stripe. Justin McLeary averages 14.3 points and ranks second in the conference with just over two steals per game. Carven Holcolmbe leads the Tigers with 6.7 rebounds while averaging 11.4 points.
 
SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas (6-6, 4-2 GAC) travels to Arkadelphia to take on Henderson State on Thursday before battling Tech on Saturday. The Muleriders are coming off a loss at home against Southern Nazarene last Saturday, after defeating Oklahoma Baptist last Thursday. SAU is tied for third in the GAC standings with Ouachita.
 
The Muleriders average just 71.8 points per game, 11^th in the GAC. Southern Arkansas' defense allows just 68.1 points per game, however, second-best in the conference. SAU is second in Division II in defensive field-goal percentage, as the Muleriders are the only team in the conference holding opponents under 40 percent on field goals. CJ Elkins paces SAU's offense with 18.1 points per contest, fifth-best in the GAC. Denarious Lockhart averages 7.7 points and ranks second in the conference with 8.9 rebounds.