Game Notes

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech University men's basketball team resumes Great American Conference action this week with a pair of home contests at Tucker Coliseum.  The Wonder Boys square off against Southwestern Oklahoma State this Thursday (Nov. 30) at 7:30 p.m. then finish off the weekend Saturday (Dec. 2) versus Northwestern Oklahoma State with a 3 p.m. opening tip off. 

SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS

Arkansas Tech (4-1, 1-1 GAC) is coming off an 88-76 non-conference home victory over Northeastern State this past Saturday (Nov. 25) at Tucker Coliseum. Freshman guard RJ Glaspers' game-high 20 points off the bench paved the way for Tech. Junior Alex Brown notched his fourth career double-double as he scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. Three other Wonder Boys reached double figures as Harris Brown scored 15, Montrell Williams tallied 11 points and Freedy Lee scored a season-high 10 points.

This season, Glasper (16.8 ppg) is the high among five Tech players averaging double-digit points. A. Brown (14.4 ppg), H. Brown (13.6 ppg), Williams (12.4 ppg), and Trevin Woods (11.0 ppg) along with Glasper have accounted for 74.4 percent of the team's scoring production this season. In rebounding, A. Brown (8.4 rpg) and Woods (6.0 rpg) lead the Wonder Boys.  

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-5, 0-2 GAC) lost its fifth consecutive game with an 71-62 non-conference road loss to Cameron this past Saturday (Nov. 25). Junior guard Charles Beauregard led SWOSU in the loss with a game-high 18 points. Jerry Hurt chipped in 12 points and Nick Shoemaker added 11 points. Justin King led the team in rebounding with eight boards.

SWOSU is led this season by Beauregard, who's averaging team highs at 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. Hurt (14.0 ppg and 3.2 rpg), Devin Pugh (8.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg), and junior forward King (8.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg) are also among the leaders for fifth-year head coach Bob Battisti's squad.    

The Bulldogs were selected to finish ninth in the 2017-18 GAC Coaches Preseason Poll. Last season, SWOSU compiled a 6-22 overall record while finishing last in the GAC at 3-19. 

SCOUTING THE RANGERS

Northwestern Oklahoma State (5-0, 2-0 GAC) tallied its fifth straight win with a 72-71 non-conference win over Emporia State this last Saturday (Nov. 25). The Rangers were led by junior forward Treyvon Andres' game-high 22 points while senior guard Cody Halvorson, added 14 points. Andres also garnered a team-high eight rebounds in the win. 

Halvorson (14.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg), Andres (12.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg), and senior guard Greg Minor (10.8 ppg and 2.0 rpg) lead NWOSU, which is directed by second-year head coach Shawn Dirden.

NWOSU, which finished last season 12-15 overall  8-14 GAC record last season, was picked 10th in the 2017-18 GAC Coaches Preseason Poll.  

ALL-TIME SERIES

Arkansas Tech leads 18-10 versus Southwestern Oklahoma State in the series which originated in the 1979-80 season. Tech has won 14 of the last 16 meetings, including seven of the past eight to date. The Wonder Boys swept the Bulldogs last season, claiming an 84-67 home win (11/17) and a 98-87 road victory (1/28).Tech is 9-2 at home, 5-6 on the road, and 4-2 at neutral sites versus SWOSU.

The Golden Suns hold an 8-1 advantage over Northwestern Oklahoma State and are in a current eight-game winning streak in the series.  Last season, Tech posted an 85-69 win on its home floor (11/19) and then recorded a 98-85 road victory (1/26).  The Wonder Boys are 4-0 at home, 4-0 on the road, and 0-1 at neutral sites against NWOSU.           

COVERAGE

Live audio, video and statistics for this week's home conference contests against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.  Both games can be heard live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville with Sam Strasner calling the action.

-FIGHTON-