ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (9-2, 5-2 Great American Conference) was unable to overcome a slow first-quarter start against the Henderson State Reddies (9-4, 5-2), falling 75-52 on Thursday night at the Duke Wells Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Golden Suns scored the game's first four points, the Reddies closed the opening quarter on a 20-0 run to claim a 20-4 advantage entering the second quarter.
• HSU's Haleigh Henson buried a 3-pointer to extend the HSU run to 23-0 before Jacie Higgins answered with a 3-pointer at the 9:25 mark, putting the first Tech points on the board since the 7:50 mark of the first quarter and ending a scoring drought of over eight minutes.
• The two teams traded buckets through the opening minutes of the second quarter, with HSU claiming a 30-11 advantage at the under-5 media timeout.
• The Reddies stretched the lead to 20 (36-16) at the half.
• The Golden Suns responded in the opening minutes of the second half, opening the third quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the HSU lead to 13 (38-25) with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter.
• Tech entered the fourth quarter trailing by 14 points (50-36).
• The Reddies outscored Tech 25-16 in the final quarter to claim the victory.

NOTABLES

• The Golden Suns missed the final 10 field goals of the first quarter.
• Lyrik Williams led the Golden Suns with 13 points.
• Both teams turned in 46 rebounds, with Tech outrebounding HSU 20-9 on the offensive glass.
• HSU outshot the Golden Suns 44.3 percent to 28.0 percent, firing for 60 percent in the fourth quarter.
• The Golden Suns were outscored 30-20 in the paint and 18-10 off turnovers. Tech held a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points.
• HSU connected on 11 of 27 3-pointers, while Tech was 4-of-16.
• Tech forced 19 Reddies turnovers.

NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 13, hosting Southern Arkansas in a Great American Conference matchup in Tucker Coliseum. A 1 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.