TIPPING OFF
In what is already a condensed two-month season schedule due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team has also played a lot of extra basketball recently as each of their last two games have gone to overtime. In turn, that has given the Wonder Boys three games that have gone to overtime out of the eight that they have played so far this season.
There won't be any complaining by any Wonder Boys coaches or players about the added minutes beyond regulation, however. In fact, they might even embrace the idea of playing more than 40 regulation minutes, because the team has been able to come away with wins in each of those three overtime contests.
As best as the records would indicate, the three overtime wins that they have notched this season are the most in a season in the long and storied history of Wonder Boys basketball.
Even though their last two games played have crossed the 40-minute threshold, the Wonder Boys figure to have fresh legs underneath them as their last three scheduled games have been canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
The Wonder Boys' most-recent overtime game came on the road at Harding on January 25 and it ended up being the team's best overall offensive performance of the year. Against the Bisons, the Wonder Boys shot 52% overall from the floor (36-of-69), 48% from three-point range (15-of-31) and 71% from the charity stripe.
After grabbing a lead as large as 15 points in the first half, the Wonder Boys tried to withstand a methodical comeback by the Bisons. Harding eventually grabbed a lead late in the second half, but a pair of clutch free throws by Tony Hall forced the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, Tech jumped out to a quick six-point advantage, but that would not lead to a win as Harding used a conventional three-point play to force a second overtime.
The second overtime was dominated by the Wonder Boys thanks to an offensive eruption from Cejay Mann. In that second OT, Mann scored 16 of the team's 19 points, which included the Wonder Boys' final 10 points of the game.
Prior to the two overtime periods, Mann had scored just two points in the game. At the conclusion of both overtimes, Mann ended up being the team's leading scorer with 21 points.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play on Thursday with a 5-3 record and a 3-3 mark in the GAC. As a team, the Wonder Boys are averaging 74.1 ppg and rank seventh in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank in a tie for fifth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 73.6 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are seventh in the conference as they are shooting at an overall clip of .437 (203-of-465) and are limiting opponents to a .412 mark (199-of-483) to rank third.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring. True freshman Cejay Mann leads the way at 14.3 ppg Senior Tony Hall is next and rounds out double-figure scoring at 11.8 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 82-46 record. Overall, Downey is in his 14th season as a head coach and has career record of 248-152.
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
Henderson State enters their game against the Wonder Boys 3-5 overall and 3-5 in the GAC. Two of their three wins this season have come against Arkansas Tech with a 70-44 win in Russellville back on January 9 and an 82-78 win in Arkadelphia on January 21.
This will be the Reddies' first game since January 28 as their most-recent scheduled game at Harding this past Saturday was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
In their most-recently played game, the Reddies suffered a 73-57 loss omn the road at UAM. Against the Boll Weevils, the Reddies went cold offensively at the end of the first half and that carried over into the second half as the Boll Weevils propelled themselves to the victory. At one point, UAM went on a 30-7 run that spanned from the final minutes of the first half through the first 10 minutes or so of the second half.
Statistically, the Reddies are averaging 75.1 ppg on offense to rank sixth in the GAC and are giving up an average of 73.6 ppg to rank in a tie for fifth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Henderson State is shooting at a .440 clip overall (208-of-473) to rank sixth and are allowing opponents to shot at a mark of .423 (201-of-475) to rank fifth.
Individually, the Reddies have two players scoring in double figures and are led by Malik Riddle at 15.1 ppg. Raekwon Rogers is next in scoring and rounds out double-figure scoring at 13.1 ppg.
The Reddies are coached by Jimmy Elgas, who is in his sixth season at HSU. In his time as a head coach at Henderson, Elgas has amassed an 84-70 record. Last season, Elgas led the Reddies to the GAC Tournament Championship giving the program their first championship of any kind since 2007-08.
