RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is coming off its first back-to-back wins of the season and will look to keep the win streak alive as they host East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma State in Great American Conference play. The Wonder Boys will play East Central at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Southeastern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio and statistics 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
East Central leads the all-time series 17-11 against Tech, including wins in seven of the last eight meetings. Earlier this season the Tigers defeated Tech 95-78 in Ada, Okla. Tech is 8-5 against ECU in Tucker Coliseum.
The Wonder Boys hold a 15-11 advantage in the all-time series against Southeastern Oklahoma. In the first meeting this season, the Savage Storm defeated the Wonder Boys 90-86 in Durant, Okla. Tech is 8-5 against SOSU at Tucker Coliseum.
| Stats |
TECH |
ECU |
SOSU |
| Record |
6-12 (4-8 GAC) |
11-6 (8-4 GAC) |
11-5 (7-5 GAC) |
| Pts/GM |
80.2 |
78.9 |
80.1 |
| FG% |
40.7 |
49.7 |
46.1 |
| 3FG% |
36.7 |
37.3 |
36.0 |
| FT% |
75.2 |
67.3 |
74.6 |
| Reb/GM |
37.8 |
35.5 |
38.1 |
| Ast/GM |
15.5 |
14.3 |
18.6 |
| Blk/GM |
2.2 |
3.1 |
1.8 |
| Stl/GM |
4.3 |
7.2 |
5.3 |
| Pts Allowed/GM |
83.7 |
75.0 |
70.4 |
| FG% Defense |
47.0 |
45.3 |
43.1 |
| 3FG% Defense |
39.1 |
36.9 |
31.4 |
| Rebound Margin |
-4.0 |
+2.2 |
+2.7 |
| Ast-TO Ratio |
1.5 |
1.0 |
1.8 |
SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
Arkansas Tech (6-12, 4-8 GAC) is coming off its first back-to-back wins of the season after the Wonder Boys defeated Southwestern Oklahoma 103-92 on Jan. 24, while
Will Adler drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Tech to a 74-72 win over Northwestern Oklahoma on Jan. 26. The Wonder Boys trailed both SWOSU (34-19) and NWOSU (36-21) by as many as 15 points, but on both occasions found a way to rally back and end the game with a victory.
Tech leads NCAA Division II in made 3-point field goals per game (13.2) and are second in the nation in total made 3-pointers (237).
Will Adler carries the bulk of the workload as his 3.8 made 3-pointers per game is the fourth-best in the country.
Mason Cline (2.4), Glasper (2.2) and
Alex Brown (2.1) are all averaging over 2.0 3-pointers per game, making Tech the only school in the conference to have four players averaging over 2.0 made 3-pointers per game.
The Wonder Boys rank 17
th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio, led by
Freddy Lee (2.6) and
R.J. Glasper (2.1). Glasper ranks fourth in the GAC in assists per game (5.4), while Lee is ranked sixth (5.2). With his six assists against NWOSU, Lee passed Paul Brown (1967-70) for third all-time in career assists with 465.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central (11-6, 8-4 GAC) enters Thursday's game after winning four of its last five games, including a pair of wins this past weekend against Henderson State (82-63) and Ouachita (80-78). The Tigers currently sit in fourth place in the GAC standings.
The Tigers lead the GAC and are ranked 16
th in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage as they shoot 49.7 percent from the floor. ECU is also ranked third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2%) and fourth in assists (14.3), steals (7.2) and assists/turnover ratio (1.0).
Cameron Talley, the Co-GAC Player of the Week, leads the Tiger offense. Talley is scoring 21.3 points per game, which ranks as the second-best in the conference. Talley is also second in the GAC in made 3-point field goals per game (3.5). Da'Rion King also averages double-figures in scoring with 14.1 points per game. King leads the GAC in field goal percentage (63.6%) and is also ranked 13
th in rebounding (5.9).
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma (11-5, 7-5 GAC) has won its last two games after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma (86-73) on Jan. 19 and Ouachita (83-74) on Jan. 24. Going into Thursday's game, SOSU is tied for fifth place in the GAC standings.
The Savage Storm not only lead the conference, but are also ranked sixth in NCAA Division II in assists per game (18.6). Southeastern's 1.8 assist/turnover ratio also at the top of the league and ranks as the third-best in the country. SOSU is ranked second in the GAC in scoring margin (+9.8), free throw percentage (74.6%), 3-point field goal defense (31.4%) and defensive rebounds per game (28.7).
Kevin Buckingham, the top rebounder in the GAC, leads the Southeastern offense. Buckingham is scoring 18.3 points per game while shooting 60.1 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from behind the arc. Kellen Manek and Jett Jobe are both scoring in double-figures with Manek at 14.0 points per game and Jobe at 11.6 points per game. Jobe leads the GAC and is ranked second in the nation with his 4.2 assist/turnover ratio.
-FIGHTON-
