TIPPING OFF
Only a few days removed from their last game played against one another, Arkansas Tech and East Central are set to face off once more this coming Thursday in Ada.
The most-recent game was played this past Monday as a makeup from an earlier postponement, setting the stage for consecutive games against one another this week.
Monday's game saw the Wonder Boys snap a season-long four-game losing skid as they turned in an overall great performance.
On the offensive end, the Wonder Boys set season-bests in fields goals made (34), field goal percentage (.607; 34-of-56) and three-point field goal percentage (.529; 9-of-17). They also had seven players score at least seven points with three going for double figures.
Those sensational offensive numbers might even get a little jolt in the upcoming second meeting as the Wonder Boys are expected to have two of their top scorers back in action for the first time since a January 15 road game at Ouachita.
Two days following their game at ECU, the Wonder Boys will travel to Durant to take their first crack at league-leading Southeastern Oklahoma. Like the initial game with ECU, the first scheduled game between the Wonder Boys and Savage Storm was postponed back in late December.
This Saturday's game, however, is not the makeup for the postponement; rather it is the regularly scheduled date. The makeup for the postponement is slated for February 22 in Russellville.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play on this weekend 6-8 overall and are 3-5 in the Great American Conference. The Wonder Boys have dropped their last four games. Their last time out, the Wonder Boys snapped a four-game losing streak with an impressive 81-61 win at home over East Central.
So far this year, the Wonder Boys are averaging 70.9 ppg and rank seventh in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank fifth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 68.4 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 .450 (389-of-865) and are limiting their opponents to a .417 mark (337-of-809) to rank first.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .330 (99-of-300) to rank ninth in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .340 (99-of-291) to rank eighth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .665 as a team (115-of-173) to rank 10th.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have player averaging double figures in scoring. Tony Hall leads the way at 12.0 ppg. The Wonder Boys are also pretty balanced in their scoring with five 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 a 90-62 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 256-168.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central enters Thursday's game at Arkansas Tech 6-10 overall and 4-6 in league play. The Tigers have lost their last two games including an 81-61 loss to Tech earlier this week in Russellville.
Statistically this season, the Tigers average 75.7 ppg on offense to rank fourth in the GAC and give up an average of 74.6 ppg to rank ninth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, East Central shoots at a .465 clip overall (443-of-952) to rank fourth and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .458 (443-of-967) to rank 11th.
From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .331 clip (118-of- 356) to rank eighth in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .356 (118-of-331) from range to rank 10th. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .729 (207-of-284) to rank seventh in the GAC.
Individually, the Tigers have four players scoring in double figures and are led by Josh Apple at 16.1 ppg. Behind Apple is Shemar Smith at 12.8 ppg. Jalen Crutchfield and Brennen Burns round out double-figure scoring at 10.5 and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
The Tigers are coached by Max Pendery, who is in his first season at ECU. Prior to becoming head coach, Pendery was an assistant at ECU for the 2020-21 season and helped guide the Tigers to a 10-9 overall record in the COVID-shortened campaign.
SCOUTING THE SAVAGE STORM
Southeastern Oklahoma enters this weekend's GAC games at 12-4 overall and 7-3 in league play. The Savage Storm will have played Harding on Thursday night prior to taking on Arkansas Tech. Heading into the weekend, Savage Storm are coming off a loss in their most-recent game at Henderson State.
Statistically this season, the Savage Storm average 87.6 ppg on offense to rank first in the GAC and give up an average of 74.1 ppg to rank eighth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Southeastern Oklahoma shoots at a .490 clip overall (498-of- 1016) to rank first and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .441 (463-of-1050) to rank eighth.
From three-point range, the Savage Storm shoot at a .405 clip (196-of-484) to rank first in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .324 (122-of-377) from range to rank third. At the charity stripe, the Savage Storm shoot .769 (210-of-273) to rank first in the GAC.
Individually, the Savage Storm have five players scoring in double figures and are led by Jett Sternberger at 18.5 ppg. Behind Sternberger is Ante Brzovic at 16.6 ppg. Adam Dworsky is just off that mark at 16.4 ppg. Kellen Manek and Bobby Johnson round out double-figure scoring at 13.6 ppg and 13.5 ppg, respectively.
The Savage Storm are coached by Kelly Green, who is in his 11th season at SE. In his time as a head coach at SE, Green has amassed a 155-139 record. Twice he has led the Savage Storm to the NCAA Regional Tournament, doing so in 2018-19 and in 2019- 20
