TIPPING OFF
A challenging and competitive early season non-conference schedule is in the books for the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team. In five games against in-region opponents, the Wonder Boys emerged 2-3 with wins over Emporia State and Missouri Southern. The three losses were tough games away from Tucker Coliseum against Fort Hays State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and then-ranked No. 18 Angelo State.
Despite the 2-3 record in those games, the Wonder Boys were competitive in all five games and tested their mettle early in preparation for what lies ahead, a 22-game Great American Conference Schedule. That slate of GAC action is set to begin this Thursday night as the Wonder Boys will host Ouachita.
Last season, due to how COVID-19 impacted the schedule, the Wonder Boys and Tigers were scheduled to play one another four times in the regular season. They ended up only playing twice in the regular season with each team winning on their home court. A third meeting also took place in the modified GAC Tournament with Ouachita escaping with a one-point victory.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play this weekend 2-3 overall are coming off a pair of tough, hard-fought losses at the Angelo State Ed Messbarger Classic. At the classic, the Wonder Boys dropped close games to Texas A&M-Kingsville, 72-67, and to No. 18-ranked Angelo State, 70-68.
So far this year, the Wonder Boys are averaging 69.0 ppg and rank 12th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank fourth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.6 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are ninth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .438 (142-of-324) and are limiting their opponents to a .401 mark (116-of-289) to rank second.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .348 (32-of-92) to rank sixth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .358 (44-of-123) to rank 10th. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .644 as a team (29-of-45) to rank 11th.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players average double figures in scoring. Czar Perry leads the way at 17.0 ppg. Tony Hall is next and rounds out double figure scoring at 10.6 ppg.
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 86-57 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 252-163.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Ouachita enters Thursday's Great American Conference opener against Arkansas Tech at 1-4 overall. The Tigers have dropped their last two games played last weekend at the Texas A&M-Commerce Lion HoopsGiving Classic. At that classic, Ouachita fell to UT-Tyler 74-62 and then lost in overtime the following day to A&M-Commerce, 86-76.
In the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Ouachita finished 5-12 overall and played an exclusive GAC regular season schedule, finishing fifth in the GAC East Division with a 4-10 record. In the modified GAC Tournament, Ouachita edged out Tech in the first round, 70-69, but then lost to Oklahoma Baptist, 97-78, in the second round.
Statistically this season, the Tigers average 69.4 ppg on offense to rank 11th in the GAC and give up an average of 78.0 ppg to rank 12th in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Ouachita shoots at a .425 clip overall (133-of-313) to rank 10th and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .458 (131-of-286) to rank 11th.
From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .307 clip (35-of- 114) to rank 12th in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .344 (42-of-122) from range to rank eighth. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .697 (46-of-66) to rank eighth in the GAC.
Individually, the Tigers have three players scoring in double figures and are led by Ma'Darius Hobson at 16.0 ppg. Behind Hobson in scoring is Kendarious Smith at 11.8 ppg. Rounding out double figure scoring is Jacob Street at 10.6 ppg.
The Tigers are coached by Dennis Nutt, who is in his 11th season at Ouachita. In his time as a head coach at Ouachita, Nutt has amassed a 139-134 record. Overall, Nutt is in his 17th season as a head coach and has amassed a 209-231 overall record.
SCOUTING THE BOLL WEEVILS
Arkansas-Monticello enters this weekend of action 4-2 overall. Prior to facing Arkansas Tech on Saturday, the Boll Weevils will have opened their GAC schedule on the road against Henderson State. In their most-recent action prior to this weekend, the Boll Weevils took part in the Drury Thanksgiving Classic where they went 1-1. The win was a one-point victory over Missouri S&T on Tuesday of last week. The loss came at the hands of host-school Drury as the Panthers beat UAM 70-64.
In the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Arkansas-Monticello finished 16-5 overall and played an almost exclusive GAC regular season schedule finishing first in the GAC East Division with a 12-4 record. The Boll Weevils went on to win the modified GAC Tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. At the regionals, however, the Boll Weevils lost their first game to GAC-foe Oklahoma Baptist, 76-57.
Statistically this season, the Boll Weevils average 73.5 ppg on offense to rank seventh in the GAC and give up an average of 63.0 ppg to rank first in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Arkansas-Monticello shoots at a .491 clip overall (161-of-328) to rank third and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .427 (134-of-314) to rank seventh.
From three-point range, the Boll Weevils shoot at a .371 clip (36-of-97) to rank third in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .346 (46-of-133) from range to rank ninth. At the charity stripe, the Boll Weevils shoot .783 (83-of-106) to rank second in the GAC.
Individually, the Boll Weevils have three players scoring in double figures and are led by Ray Price at 15.0 ppg. Behind Price in scoring is Richard Feagin Jr. at 14.8 ppg. Rounding out double figure scoring is Josh Williams at 11.0 ppg.
The Boll Weevils are coached by Chad Tapp, who is in his first season at Arkansas-Monticello. Prior to his time at UAM, Tapp spent the past eight seasons as the head coach of Lyon College in Batesville. At Lyon, Tapp amassed a 119-113 record.
