GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 6-10 (4-10 GAC)	OUACHITA TIGERS 4-10 (4-10 GAC)
Saturday, February 26 | 4 p.m. Russellville, Ark. | Tucker Coliseum LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES (PDF)

TIPPING OFF

It has been a trying month of February for the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team, but that script can flip quickly in the Wonder Boys' regular season finale at home against Ouachita on Saturday. 

Despite the results in recent games, the Wonder Boys remain in position to move up as high as the No. 4-seed in the Great American Conference Eastern Division standings and host the opening round game of next week's GAC Tournament on Monday, March 1. 

That possibility was kept alive thanks to how the other games in the GAC East played out on Thursday night. Both Harding and Ouachita, the two teams just ahead of the Wonder Boys in the standings, lost their respective games to Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello. 

Now, the path for the Wonder Boys to host a game on Monday is much clearer. 

First they must beat Ouachita inside Tucker Coliseum on Saturday. Then, the Wonder Boys would need some help from Southern Arkansas and have the Muleriders beat Harding on their home court. SAU will be playing the Bisons with a ton on the line well as they are currently tied for the GAC East lead with UAM and would be looking to claim at least a share of the divisional championship with a win over Harding. 

If those two scenarios play out as described, then the Wonder Boys will be the No. 4-seed and will turn right around and host Ouachita on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Tucker Coliseum. If the Wonder Boys beat Ouachita, but Harding upsets SAU, then the Bisons will be the No. 4-seed and the Wonder Boys would be the No. 5-seed and travel to Searcy on Monday. 

If Tech is unable to defeat the Tigers, then the Wonder Boys would be the No. 6-seed and travel to Arkadelphia to take on Henderson State for what would be a fifth time this season.

TECH TIDBITS 

The Wonder Boys enter play on Saturday with a 6-10 record and a 4-10 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Wonder Boys are averaging 69.9 ppg and rank ninth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank eighth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 73.1 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 .439 (393-of-896) and are limiting opponents to a .427 mark (396-of-927) to rank sixth. From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .363 (140-of-386) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .347 (134-of-386) to rank sixth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .658 as a team (192-of-292) to rank 12th. 

Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring. True freshman Cejay Mann leads the way at 11.5 ppg Senior Tony Hall is next and rounds out double figure scoring at 11.4 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 83-53 record. Overall, Downey is in his 14th season as a head coach and has career record of 249-159. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS 

Ouachita enters their game against the Wonder Boys 4-10 overall and 4-9 in the GAC. The Tigers will also be coming off of consecutive losses, losing most-recently at home to Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday evening. That game with the Boll Weevils was a closely-contested, low-scoring affair that saw UAM hold on to edge out the Tigers 55-52. 

Statistically, the Tigers are averaging 68.1 ppg on offense to rank 11th in the GAC and are giving up an average of 72.8 ppg to rank sixth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Ouachita is shooting at a .424 clip overall (342-of-807) to rank eighth and are allowing opponents to shot at a mark of .461 (347-of-753) to rank 11th. From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .310 clip (88-of-284) to rank 12th in the GAC and are allowing opponents to shoot .387 (126-of-326) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .710 (181-of-255) to rank seventh in the GAC. 

Individually, the Tigers have one player scoring in double figures and are led by Kendarious Smith at 16.1 ppg. Two others are on the cusp of double figures with Ma'Darius Hobson and DJ Kane at 9.5 and 9.4 ppg, respectively. 

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.