GAME INFORMATION
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ARKANSAS TECH
GOLDEN SUNS
7-6 (4-5 GAC) |
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
8-7 (3-6 GAC) |
Monday, January 17 | 5:30 p.m.
Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LISTEN LIVE | ATU NOTES (PDF) | SAU NOTES |
TIPPING OFF
After a tough road trip that saw three losses, Arkansas Tech looks forward to the week ahead.
The Golden Suns return home this week to start with a makeup game that was canceled earlier in the year due to COVID-19. Arkansas Tech finds themselves going head-to-head with Southern Arkansas on Monday night inside of Tucker Coliseum. The game in Russellville against Southern Arkansas is scheduled for a tip-off time of 5:30 p.m. on Monday night as both sides prepare to face each other for the first time this season.
With a 7-6 start to the year, the Golden Suns have shown that they are a team with a lot of resilience as they deal with some injuries that has left the team a little short handed on the bench. Their 90-84 win over Ouachita Baptist was their first challenge, with Ouachita freshmen Aspen Thornton dropping 43 points. They once again showed their ability to withstand pressure holding on to defeat Arkansas-Monticello on the road 72-66.
Against East Central, they were down by 7 at the half, but Tech went on to score 34 points in the third quarter for the second time this season to give them the edge and pull out the 70-59 victory.
The Golden Suns recently had their best performance of the season against Southern Nazarene on the road where they controlled the entire game and won 80-52. Three members of the Golden Suns hit double figures in scoring, all above 15 points or more. The team also shot a season high 60.0% (6-of-10) from three.
TECH TIDBITS
Arkansas Tech enters this weekend with a 7-6 overall record and a 4-5 record among conference opponents. Their last outing proved to be a tough loss on the road against Ouachita Baptist as the Tigers hot shooting overtook the Golden Suns going 50.0% from the floor and 45.0% from long range.
Statistically, this year, the Golden Suns are averaging 77.3 ppg and rank fifth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Golden Suns rank seventh in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 71.7 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Golden Suns are fifth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .426 (357-of-839) and are limiting their opponents to a .399 mark (326-of-818) to rank eighth.
From beyond-the-arc, the Golden Suns are shooting at a clip of .325 (75-of-231) to rank eighth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .324 (79-of-244) to rank tenth. From the free throw line, the Golden Suns are shooting .732 as a team (216-of-295) to rank fifth.
Individually, the Golden Suns have three players averaging double figures in scoring. Kaley Shipman leads the way at 19.2 ppg. Jayana Sanders is next at 14.6 ppg. Rounding out the list of the double figure scorers for Arkansas Tech is Ashlei Lopez who is averaging 13.9 ppg .
The Golden Suns are coached by Dave Wilbers, who is in his 15th season on the sidelines at Tech. A member of the 300-career win club, Wilbers has a career record of 319-101.
Overall in his time at Tech, Wilbers has kept the Golden Suns as perennial contenders in the GAC, the region and the nation, winning 20 or more games nine times, capturing seven conference regular championships, five conference tournament championships and advancing to nine NCAA Regional Tournaments.
SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas enters Thursday's conference game at 8-7 overall with a 3-6 record in conference play and are coming off of a tough 70-95 loss against Harding. Their last win was on the road against Arkansas-Monticello on January 13.
In the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Southern Arkansas finished 4-10 overall and 3-9 in conference to place fifth in the GAC East Division.
Statistically this season, the Muleriders average 88.4 ppg on offense to rank first in the GAC and give up an average of 83.1 ppg to rank last in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, SAU shoots at a .393 clip overall (467-of-1187) to rank 11 and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .471 (472-of-1002) to rank last.
From three-point range, the Muleriders shoot at a .312 clip (140-of-449) to rank ninth in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .338 (88-of-260) from range to rank 11. At the charity stripe, the Muleriders shoot .672 (252-of-375) to rank tenth in the GAC.
Individually, the Muleriders have four players scoring in double figures and are led by Kisi Young with 14.7 ppg and Diamond Morris averaging 10.9 ppg. Closing out the double figure scorers for Southern Arkansas are Ariana Guinn with 10.4 ppg and Kenzie Ezekiel with 10.0 ppg.
The Muleriders are coached by Adam Collins, who is in his fourth season at Southern Arkansas. In his time as a head coach at SAU, Collins has an 32-52 record.
