SEARCY, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball game at Harding on Monday night featured numerous ups and downs that eventually ended with the Wonder Boys being on the down side of the scoreboard, 75-71.
 
After leading by double digits midway through the first half, the Wonder Boys (6-9, 4-9 GAC) found themselves trailing by seven at the break. The Wonder Boys quickly flipped that script around however as they came out of the locker room remarkably efficient in their scoring.
 
Over the first four minutes of action in the second half, the Wonder Boys were 6-of-7 from the floor and turned the seven-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead, 42-41, with 16:10 to play.
 
The scorching shooting start that gave the Wonder Boys the lead continued over the next nine minutes of game time as the Wonder Boys made their next 7-of-8 field goals. Despite that, the Wonder Boys only led by three points with 7:25 left.
 
That would be the largest the Wonder Boys' lead would get down the stretch as the margin between the two teams hovered within a possession.
 
Over the final four and a half minutes there would be three lead changes with the last of those being in favor of the Bisons (4-8, 4-8 GAC) at the 2:27 mark. From there, the Bisons would be able to keep the Wonder Boys at bay thanks to an unblemished 8-of-8 makes from the charity stripe to close out the game.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys would end up shooting 48% overall from the floor (25-of-52) thanks to a remarkable 63% shooting (15-of-24) in the second half alone. On the other end of the court, the Bisons saw their overall shooting percentage go down from their 52% success in the first half (13-of-25), but still ended with a respectable 45% performance (25-of-56).
 
Neither team found a ton of success from three-point range as the two teams combined for just 11 makes on 38 attempts, but the glaring difference came at the free throw line as the Bisons made 18-of-19 while the Wonder Boys made 17-of-27.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys had three players in double figures with Justin Briley and Niko Gosnell leading the way with 15 points each. Gosnell also added a team-high 10 rebounds as he notched his first double-double as a Wonder Boy. Kevin Howard was next and rounded out double-figure scoring with 12 points.
 
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for their final road game of the regular season on Thursday night as they will travel to Magnolia to take on Southern Arkansas. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.