TIPPING OFF
Having last played a game back on December 18, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is finally able to return to action this Saturday afternoon on the road at Ouachita. Each of the last five scheduled games for the Wonder Boys had to be postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within their program and Harding's.
Combined with the normal break over the Christmas holiday, it will have been 28 days since the Wonder Boys hit the hardwood and they are eager for their return.
Prior to the interruption in their season, the Wonder Boys were starting to find their footing and were zeroing in on consistency. After playing a strong non-conference schedule, the Wonder Boys have hit some ups and downs in Great American Conference play, but still have a majority of that slate remaining.
Fortunately, all five of the postponed games have been able to have make up dates scheduled, giving hope that the Wonder Boys will be able to complete their 22-game GAC slate by the time the conference tournament rolls around.
This Saturday's game at Ouachita will be the second meeting between the two teams this season as they both opened their conference schedules with one another back in early December. That initial meeting was played at Tucker Coliseum and the Wonder Boys eventually cruised to a 72-54 win over the Tigers thanks to a 50-point second half.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play this weekend 5-5 overall and are 2-2 in the Great American Conference. The Wonder Boys' last game played was a hard-fought loss at home to Southern Arkansas, 89-83, back on December 18. Prior to that, the Wonder Boys had won two-straight games including an impressive 84-74 overtime win at Henderson State.
So far this year, the Wonder Boys are averaging 69.7 ppg and rank 10th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank second in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.8 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are sixth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .453 (281-of-620) and are limiting their opponents to a .406 mark (231-of-569) to rank first.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .314 (59-of-188) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .352 (74-of-210) to rank 10th. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .667 as a team (76-of-114) to rank 10th.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring. Czar Perry leads the way at 16.5 ppg and is followed up by Tony Hall at 11.2 ppg. The Wonder Boys are also pretty balanced in their scoring with four other players averaging at least 7.0 ppg.
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his second season back on the sidelines at Tech after a 10-year hiatus. In his first stint, Downey patrolled the sidelines at Tech for four seasons from 2006-07 - 2009-10. 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 sixth season overall, Downey has amassed an 89-59 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 255-165.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Ouachita enters Saturday's GAC game against Arkansas Tech at 3-11 overall and 1-7 in league play. The Tigers have lost their last three games, and most recently lost on the road to their cross-street rivals, Henderson State by a score of 59-56.
Statistically this season, the Tigers average 70.3 ppg on offense to rank ninth in the GAC and give up an average of 76.2 ppg to rank 10th in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Ouachita shoots at a .439 clip overall (373-of-849) to rank 10th and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .465 (364-of- 782) to rank 11th.
From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .304 clip (90-of- 296) to rank 12th in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .340 (119-of-350) from range to rank eighth. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .736 (148-of-201) to rank sixth in the GAC.
Individually, the Tigers have two players scoring in double figures and are led by Ma'Darius Hobson at 15.7 ppg. Behind Hobson and rounding out double figure scoring is Kendarious Smith at 12.9 ppg.
The Tigers are coached by Dennis Nutt, who is in his 11th season at Ouachita. In his time as a head coach at Ouachita, Nutt has amassed a 141-141 record. Overall, Nutt is in his 17th season as a head coach and has registered a 211-238 career record.
