RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – In their final non-conference game of the season, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team picked up a 58-51 win over Hendrix College.
 
With an 11:00 a.m. tip-off, the Wonder Boys (5-4) were able to treat over 300 local elementary school students to a show as children from Crawford, Center Valley and Dwight Elementary were in attendance as part of the inaugural "Kids Day Out" game at Tucker Coliseum.
 
Russellville native Taelon Peter received a thunderous ovation when he was announced in the starting lineups and the former Cyclone did not disappoint. Peter went on to score 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and had several highlight dunks that brought the kiddos to their feet.
 
As far as game action, the Wonder Boys led from wire-to-wire. Tech would build up a double-digit lead on a few occasions in the first half, but went into the locker room with an eight-point lead, 24-16.
 
In the second half, the Wonder Boys quickly regained a double-digit lead and maintained it until just under four minutes left when Hendrix pulled within seven on an old-fashioned three-point play by Seth Stanley.
 
Earlier in the half, the Wonder Boys had built up their lead to its apex of 19 points. Hendrix's run from that point turned on and became a real threat. A couple of times with under a minute to go, the Warriors got as close as five points, but the Wonder Boys were able to hold firm and in both instances scored on their next trip down the floor push it to a three-possession game.
 
In each of those stands, the Wonder Boys got points from Czar Perry as he had a layup and iced the game with two free throws down the stretch.
 
Those four points pushed Perry to a team-high 14. The other Wonder Boy in double figures was the aforementioned Taelon Peter and his 11 points. A total of 11 Wonder Boys saw action in the game with nine scoring. Lucas Foster, Caden Hale and Isaac Ragland all logged their first minutes of the season. Hale and Ragland each hit a three-pointer.
 
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for a return to GAC action on Saturday as they host a very tough Southern Arkansas team. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 18 inside Tucker Coliseum.