RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.- The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns basketball teams will play their first home games of the 2019 calendar year this Thursday, January 10, and Saturday, January 12, as Tech plays host to Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist.

Thursday's contests against Southern Nazarene will begin at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's games begin at 1 and 3 p.m. 

The Golden Suns (5-7, 2-4 Great American Conference) will look to snap a three-game skid. Tech came close but ultimately was undone by a late foul call in a 61-59 loss at East Central last Saturday. The duo of Hannah Villines (12.3 ppg), and Jacie Higgins (12.0 ppg) average in double figures, with starters Ke'Vonshaye Stackhouse (9.8 ppg), Jayana Sanders (9.3 ppg) and Lyrik Williams (8.9 ppg) following closely behind. Williams grabs a team-high 6.6 boards per game while Villines averages 5.7. 

Southern Nazarene (4-8, 3-3) enters town on a two-game win streak, picking up wins over Ouachita and Henderson State this past weekend in Bethany. The Crimson Storm are led by Adrienne Berry's 10.8 points per game, while Abby Niehues averages 10.1 points per game. Niehues also leads SNU with 6.4 boards per contest. 

Oklahoma Baptist (6-6, 2-4) split its games last weekend, falling 86-62 to Henderson State before knocking off Ouachita Baptist 76-64 in Shawnee. The Bison have been led by Autumn Avina's 18.8 points, 8.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Victoria Blankenship (14.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Katy Custer (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Mikayla Shulanberger (9.6 ppg) also provide solid minutes as regular starters for the Bison. 

The Wonder Boys (2-10, 0-6) look to find the win column for the first time since Nov. 17. R.J. Glasper has led Tech offensively, knocking down 19.8 points per game and grabbing 4.3 rebounds per contest. Will Adler (15.3 ppg) and Alex Brown (13.2 ppg) have provided offensive strength, while Freddy Lee (7.7 ppg, 5.0 apg) has also provided offensive stability. 

Tech faces a tall challenge right off the bat with No. 15/19 Southern Nazarene (12-2, 5-1), who has won three straight games. SNU's lone conference setback came on Dec. 6, when the Crimson Storm fell 76-43 to Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant. Since then, however, SNU has not lost in league play and is coming off a pair of wins over Ouachita and Henderson in Bethany. Jhonathan Dunn (18.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Noah Starkey (14.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Micah Speight (13.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg) have provided the bulk of the offensive firepower for SNU, while Quaylon Newton recently returned to the SNU lineup and scored 16 points in SNU's last game against Henderson State.

Oklahoma Baptist (6-6, 5-1) may not have SNU's gaudy non-conference numbers but they have been equally potent in league play. The Bison are coming off a pair of wins over Henderson and Ouachita, and have won four straight league contests. OBU's lone league loss came at the hands of Northwestern Oklahoma in Alva, where the Rangers escaped with a 78-77 win. OBU has been led by the play of Antonio Wade (16.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Davion Turner (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Dishon Lowery (12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), and Brantly Thompson (10.1 pprg. 3.6 rpg. 

All games will be broadcast live locally on 102.3-FM (KCJC) while live audio, video, and statistics will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.