GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 2-2 (0-2 GAC)	SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS 3-0 (3-0 GAC)
Thursday, January 14 | 7:30 p.m. Russellville, Ark. | Tucker Coliseum LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES

TIPPING OFF
After dropping to .500 on their overall record with consecutive losses to Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson State, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is looking to reset themselves and return to their winning ways on Thursday night against the lone unbeaten team in the GAC East, Southern Arkansas. 

This will be the Wonder Boys' first game since last Saturday as their scheduled rivalry game vs. Harding on Monday was canceled due to a combination of a positive test, contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the Harding men's basketball program. A similar fate fell upon the Wonder Boys' scheduled road game at Ouachita this coming Saturday amid COVID concerns within the Ouachita program. 

In their last game played, the Wonder Boys suffered their first home loss of the season to reigning GAC Tournament Champion, Henderson State. 

The early part of the game was closely-contested as there were four tie scores, two lead changes and neither team held a lead larger than four points over the first seven minutes or so of action. The second of the two lead changes, however, went in favor of the Reddies and proved to be the last lead change of the game as Henderson remained out in front the remainder of the contest.

TECH TIDBITS 

The Wonder Boys enter play tonight with a 2-2 record and an 0-2 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Wonder Boys are averaging 68.8 ppg and rank ninth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank sixth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 70.0 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are 11th in the conference as they are shooting at an overall clip of .391 (90-of-230) and are limiting opponents to a .414 mark (96-of- 232). 

Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring. Senior Tony Hall leads the way at 11.3 ppg. Classmate Ke'Lyn Adams rounds out double-figure scoring for the Wonder Boys at 10.8 ppg. 

The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his first season back on the sidelines at Tech after a 10-year hiatus. Previously, Downey patrolled the sidelines at Tech for four seasons. In his final season, Downey guided the Wonder Boys to a program-record 30 wins and during the course of that season, the Wonder Boys were ranked No. 1 in NCAA DII for the first time ever. 

In his time at Tech, which is now in its fifth season, Downey has amassed a 79-45 record. Overall, Downey is in his 14th season as a head coach and has career record of 245-151. 

SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS 

Southern Arkansas enters their game against the Wonder Boys 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the GAC. With a bevy of games canceled due to COVID-19 already this season, the Muleriders are the lone team in the GAC Eastern division to have played all three scheduled conference games heading into play tonight. The Muleriders are also atop the standings in the GAC East at 3-0. 

In their most-recent game, the Muleriders withstood a three-point barrage from UAM and ultimately edged their rival, 71-67. That win took a late second half comeback by the Muleriders as UAM led by as many as nine points at the 7:16 mark. Methodically over the next six minutes or so of the game, the Muleriders tied the game at 67-all on a split trip to the free throw line. Following a miss by UAM on their next trip down the court, the Muleriders secured the rebound and set up for the final shot of the game. That ended up being a go-ahead jumper by Blake Rogers with five seconds left. A technical foul was then called on the UAM bench for requesting a timeout when theirs had expired. That allowed the Muleriders to put the game away with a pair of technical free throws by Aaron Lucas. 

Statistically, the Muleriders are averaging 74.3 ppg on offense to rank sixth in the GAC and are giving up an average of 67.3 ppg to rank fourth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, SAU is shooting at .493 clip overall (73-of-148) to rank first and are allowing opponents to shot at a mark of .395 (68-of-172) to rank third. 

Individually, the Muleriders have four players scoring in double figures and are led by Aaron Lucas at 16.7 ppg. Next behind Lucas is Blake Rogers at 15.3 ppg. The Brooks brothers round out double-figure scoring at 14.0 ppg for Devante and 11.3 ppg for Jalen, respectively. 

The Muleriders are coached by Andy Sharpe, who is in his ninth season at SAU. In his time as a head coach at SAU, Sharpe has amassed a 117-114 record. He has also led the Muleriders to the GAC Tournament each year at SAU. Overall, Sharpe in his 16th season as a head coach and has a career record of 285-184.