TIPPING OFF
For the first time in just over a month, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team will be playing a game in their home venue of Tucker Coliseum. Due to a combination of Christmas break and a couple of COVID-related postponements, the Wonder Boys last played at home back on December 18 against Southern Arkansas. That game played out as a hard-fought loss against one of the highly-touted programs in the Great American Conference coming into the season.
In their return home, the Wonder Boys are scheduled to host Southwestern Oklahoma and Northwestern Oklahoma as the traveling partners spend the weekend in the Natural State taking on Tech and Harding in alternating fashion.
This weekend's games will be also be the first against GAC teams from Oklahoma for the Wonder Boys since the 2019-20 season. Last year, due to COVID-19 modifications, the GAC split into divisions with the six teams from Arkansas making up the East Division and teams from Oklahoma making up the West Division.
During the regular season, games were only played within the division. The first time that there was any cross-division games came in the second round of the GAC Tournament, but Tech was eliminated in the opening round by Ouachita.
The aforementioned two home game postponements in between the Wonder Boys playing in Tucker would have previously ended the drought of not playing an opponent from the Sooner State back in December.
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 69.9 ppg and rank ninth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank fourth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 67.0 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are eighth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .445 (308-of-692) and are limiting their opponents to a .415 mark (261-of-629) to rank first.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .306 (68-of-222) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .347 (78-of-225) to rank ninth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .664 as a team (85-of-128) 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 12.0 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 89-60 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 255-166.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Southwestern Oklahoma enters Thursday's GAC game against Arkansas Tech at 4-9 overall and 3-5 in league play. The Bulldogs are coming off a win in their most-recent game on the road at rival Northwestern Oklahoma. The Bulldogs won that game 83-73 behind a near triple double from leading scorer Damion Thornton (20 pts, 10 assts, 9 rebs).
Statistically this season, the Bulldogs average 69.5 ppg on offense to rank 10th in the GAC and give up an average of 76.5 ppg to rank 11th in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, SWOSU shoots at a .391 clip overall (300-of-768) to rank 12th and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .445 (338-of- 759) to rank eighth.
From three-point range, the Bulldogs shoot at a .322 clip (113- of-351) to rank ninth in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .383 (131-of-342) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Bulldogs shoot .699 (190-of-272) to rank eighth in the GAC.
Individually, the Tigers have three players scoring in double figures and are led by Damion Thornton at 19.1 ppg. Behind Thornton is Kamden Gipson at 12.8 ppg. Just off that pace and rounding out double figure scoring is Chris Braggs Jr. at 12.5 ppg.
The Bulldogs are coached by Terry Evans, who is in his fourth season at Southwestern Oklahoma. In his time as a head coach at SWOSU, Evans has amassed a 29-58 record. Overall, Evans is in his 17th season as a head coach and has registered a 292-182 career record.
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Northwestern Oklahoma enters this weekend's GAC slate of games at 9-6 overall and 4-5 in league play. Prior to the meeting with Arkansas Tech on Saturday, the Rangers will have played on the road at Harding on Thursday evening. Coming into this weekend of action, the Rangers are in the midst of a two-game losing skid with losses at home to Southwestern Oklahoma and on the road at Oklahoma Baptist.
Statistically this season, the Rangers average 77.7 ppg on offense to rank third in the GAC and give up an average of 69.5 ppg to rank sixth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, NWOSU shoots at a .491 clip overall (431-of-878) to rank second and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .416 (357-of- 858) to rank second.
From three-point range, the Rangers shoot at a .339 clip (113-of-333) to rank seventh in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .325 (106-of-326) from range to rank fourth. At the charity stripe, the Rangers shoot .654 (191-of-292) to rank 11th in the GAC.
Individually, the Rangers have five players scoring in double figures and are led by Larry White at 14.5 ppg. Behind White is Bubba Furlong at 11.5 ppg. Brian Free, Malik Parsons and Jason Douglas-Stanley all average just under 11.0 ppg at 10.9, 10.8, and 10.7 ppg, respectively.
The Rangers are coached by Vinay Patel, who is in his third season at NWOSU. In his time as a head coach at NWOSU, Patel has amassed a 22-36 record. Overall, Patel is in his seventh season as a head coach and has registered a 104-88 career record
