TIPPING OFF
History sure has a funny way of repeating itself from time-to-time. Even though not many of the same variables were in place as they were in 2019 all across the board, the opening weekend of the 2021-22 season played out eerily similar to one another, at least from the Arkansas Tech perspective.
In 2019, Tech played their opening weekend in a GAC/MIAA Crossover Challenge and took on Fort Hays State and Emporia State. That weekend, the Wonder Boys lost to Fort Hays State to open the season and then bounced back to beat Emporia State to end the weekend 1-1.
Those outcomes reappeared during opening weekend this year as the Wonder Boys dropped the opener to Fort Hays State only to rebound the next day and knock off Emporia State.
This year, while the results were the same as in 2019, the ultimate path there was much different. In fact, in the specific case of each game, those played out as polar opposites.
Against FHSU in the opener, the Wonder Boys got off to an ice cold start on offense and weren't able to overcome an early 11-0 deficit. Against Emporia, however, the Wonder Boys started on fire and raced out to a 13-0 lead. That initial surge was more than enough for the Wonder Boys to secure their first win of the season.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play on Tuesday night with an even 1-1 record after splitting their games during opening weekend at Fort Hays State. Tech would drop that initial game against FHSU, but bounced back in a major way against Emporia State and collected a big in-region victory.
So far this year, the Wonder Boys are averaging 68.0 ppg and rank 11th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank second in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 66.0 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are seventh in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .447 (59-of-132) and are limiting their opponents to a .414 mark (46-of-111) to rank sixth.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .317 (13-of-41) to rank ninth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .341 (15-of-44) to rank eighth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .625 as a team (5-of-8) to rank 11th.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have four players average double figures in scoring. Czar Perry leads the way at 15.5 ppg. Cameron Kennedy is next at 12.5 ppg. Tony Hall and Niko Gosnell are the other two in double figure scoring at 11.5 ppg and 11.0 ppg, respectively.
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his second season back on the sidelines at Tech after a 10-year hiatus. In his first stint, Downey patrolled the sidelines at Tech for four seasons from 2006-07 - 2009-10. 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 sixth season overall, Downey has amassed an 85-55 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 251-161.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern State enters Tuesday's non-conference clash at 2-2 overall. Both of their wins this season have needed bonus time as each victory came in overtime. Even more extra time was needed to secure their first win of the season as the Lions knocked off Southern Nazarene 89-88 in double overtime. Their other OT win came in their ensuing game, an 87-85 win in single OT against Southwest Baptist.
In the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Missouri Southern finished 13-10 overall and played an exclusive MIAA regular season schedule, finishing in a tie for third-place in the league standings with a 13-9 record. MSSU only played in one MIAA Tournament game as they fell to Central Oklahoma in a high-scoring battle, 109-101.
Statistically this season, the Lions average 87.0 ppg on offense to rank first in the MIAA and give up an average of 91.0 ppg to rank 14th in the MIAA. In terms of field goal percentages, Missouri Southern shoots at a .461 clip overall (129-of-280) to rank sixth and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .484 (123-of-254) to rank 13th.
From three-point range, the Lions shoot at a .380 clip (38-of- 100) to rank third in the MIAA and are allowing their opponents to shoot .415 (44-of-106) from range to rank 14th. At the charity stripe, the Lions shoot .800 (52-of-65) to rank second in the MIAA.
Individually, the Lions hve three players scoring in double figures in and are led by RJ Smith at 20.5 ppg. Behind Smith in scoring is Winston Dessesow at 17.0 ppg. The two others in double figures are Stan Scott and Christian Bundy at 16.0 and 12.0 ppg, respectively.
The Lions are coached by Jeff Boschee, who is in his eighth season at Missouri Southern. In his time as a head coach at Missouri Southern, Boschee has amassed a 139-71 record. The fastest to 100 wins at MSSU, Boschee has led the Lions to the NCAA Tournament three times.
