GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 6-5 (4-5 GAC)	OUACHITA TIGERS 2-7 (2-6 GAC)
Friday, February 12 | 5 p.m. Arkadelphia, Ark. | Bill Vining Arena LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES (PDF) | OUA NOTES

TIPPING OFF

The third time appears to be the charm as it relates to the Arkansas Tech and Ouachita men's basketball teams meeting on the court as the two are set to play for the first time this season. The initial two scheduled games between the Wonder Boys and Tigers were each canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. As a result, Ouachita is the last remaining GAC Eastern Division opponent that the Wonder Boys have yet to face. 

The Wonder Boys will be coming off of an impressive 89-76 home win against Harding in their last game played on Monday night. That win snapped a two-game losing streak and pushed their overall record back over .500 at 6-5. It also was the 200th win for Mark Downey as a NCAA head coach. 

Now in his 14th year overall as a head coach, Downey started his career as a head coach at the JUCO level and led Independence Community College for two seasons from 1999-2001. At Independence CC, Downey collected 48 wins. 

In the win against Harding, the Wonder Boys received a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring in double figures. In addition to that, all eight players that logged action in the game scored at least six points. 

While their balanced scoring effort was a key to victory over the Bisons, the Wonder Boys were also highly-efficient in that scoring as a team. In fact, the Wonder Boys shot a season-high 59% overall from the floor (34-of-58) against the Bisons. 

The Wonder Boys have now shot 50% or better four times with two of those coming against Harding. In two games with the Bisons, the Wonder Boys are averaging 99.0 ppg and are shooting 55% overall from the floor.

TECH TIDBITS 

The Wonder Boys enter play on Thursday with a 6-5 record and a 4-5 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Wonder Boys are averaging 72.5 ppg and rank sixth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank seventh in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 72.1 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are sixth in the conference as they are shooting at an overall clip of .444 (284-of-639) and are limiting opponents to a .423 mark (270-of-639) to rank fifth. From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .371 (106-of-286) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .325 (88-of-271) to rank third. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .661 as a team (123-of-186) to rank 10th. 

Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring. True freshman Cejay Mann leads the way at 12.6 ppg Senior Ke'lyn Adams is next at 11.2 ppg and Tony Hall rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.9 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 an 83-48 record. Overall, Downey is in his 14th season as a head coach and has career record of 249-154. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS 

Ouachita enters their game against the Wonder Boys 2-7 overall and 2-6 in the GAC. The Tigers will be coming off a loss in their last game played at home against cross-street rival Henderson State. 

In that game, the Tigers trailed by seven points at halftime and faced their largest deficit of 10 points at the 14:48 mark of the second half. Ouachita would overcome that and grabbed a lead at the 4:52 mark. It would be a short-lived lead, however, as the Reddies closed out the game outscoring the Tigers, 9-2. 

Statistically, the Tigers are averaging 67.1 ppg on offense to rank 11th in the GAC and are giving up an average of 75.1 ppg to rank ninth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Ouachita is shooting at a .408 clip overall (206-of-505) to rank 10th and are allowing opponents to shot at a mark of .471 (231-of-490) to rank 12th. From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .324 clip (57-of-176) to rank 10th in the GAC and are allowing opponents to shoot .399 (87-of-218) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .714 (135-of-189) to rank third in the GAC. 

Individually, the Tigers have two players scoring in double figures and are led by Kendarious Smith at 14.9 ppg. DJ Kane is next in scoring and rounds out double figure scoring at 11.9 ppg. 

The Tigers are coached by Dennis Nutt, who is in his 10th season at Ouachita. In his time as a head coach at Ouachita, Nutt has amassed a 135-124 record. Overall, Nutt is in his 16th season as a head coach and has a career record of 207-220.