GAME DAY INFORMATION
NO. 4-SEED EAST ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 7-10 (5-10 GAC)	NO. 5-SEED EAST OUACHITA TIGERS 4-11 (4-11 GAC)
Monday, March 1 | 7:30 p.m. Russellville, Ark. | Tucker Coliseum LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES (PDF) | OUACHITA NOTES

TIPPING OFF
Needing to win and get some help in order to host the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament as the No. 4-seed in the GAC Eastern Division, the Arkansas Tech used an extra five minutes of action against Ouachita to defeat the Tigers to handle their end of the scenario on Saturday. Fittingly, the help needed by the Wonder Boys would also not be decided in regulation as Southern Arkansas and Harding tied at the end of regulation. 

With the win in hand, the Wonder Boys still needed Harding to lose on the road at Southern Arkansas, a team that was vying for at least a share of the GAC Eastern Division Championship, a title that would be the first for the program since 1989-90. In that overtime period, there was never a doubt as SAU raced out to a six-point lead in just over a minute and half of play. 

By the end of the overtime, all of the scenarios needed for the Wonder Boys to remain at home for the opening round of the GAC Tournament had taken place. As for the opponent that would accompany the Wonder Boys in Tucker Coliseum on Monday? 

Well, let's go ahead and run it back shall we? That's right less than 48 hours after the Wonder Boys snapped their season-long five-game losing streak and beat Ouachita in overtime to end the regular season, the two teams will play once more, this time with an opportunity to keep their season going and advance to the quarterfinal round of the GAC Tournament where the winner will go play at No. 1-seed from the GAC West, Oklahoma Baptist on Wednesday, March 3.

TECH TIDBITS 
The Wonder Boys enter play on Monday with a 7-10 record and finished the regular season with a 5-10 mark in the GAC to earn the No. 4-seed in the GAC Eastern Division. 

As a team, the Wonder Boys are averaging 69.8 ppg and rank ninth 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 72.7 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are fifth in the conference as they are shooting at an overall clip of .440 (418-of-949) and are limiting opponents to a .426 mark (421- of-988) to rank sixth. From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .367 (146-of-398) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .347 (143-of-412) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .661 as a team (199-of-301) to rank 10th. 

Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring. True freshman Cejay Mann leads the way at 11.8 ppg Senior Tony Hall is next and rounds out double figure scoring at 11.6 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 84-53 record. Overall, Downey is in his 14th season as a head coach and has career record of 250-159. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS 
Ouachita enters their game against the Wonder Boys 4-11 overall and ended the regular season 4-10 in the GAC to earn the No. 5-seed in the GAC Eastern Division, The Tigers have now lost three-straight games including their most-recent game with Tech this past Saturday. 

Statistically, the Tigers are averaging 67.9 ppg on offense to rank 11th in the GAC and are giving up an average of 72.5 ppg to rank seventh in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Ouachita is shooting at a .423 clip overall (367-of-868) to rank eighth and are allowing opponents to shot at a mark of .462 (372-of-806) to rank 12th. From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .313 clip (97-of-310) to rank 12th in the GAC and are allowing opponents to shoot .389 (137-of-352) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .715 (188-of-263) to rank fifth in the GAC. 

Individually, the Tigers have one player scoring in double figures and are led by Kendarious Smith at 15.9 ppg. Two others are on the cusp of double figures with Ma'Darius Hobson and DJ Kane at 9.8 and 9.1 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 135-125 record. Overall, Nutt is in his 16th season as a head coach and has a career record of 207-221.