GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 4-4 (2-0 GAC)	HENDERSON STATE REDDIES 4-3 (2-0 GAC)
Thursday, December 1 | 7:30 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO GAME NOTES TECH | HSU

TIPPING OFF
A handful of games have been played thus far in Great American Conference play and through three games across the league, only one team is out to an unblemished 3-0 start. However, after Arkansas Tech and Henderson State play one another on Monday night, that number of unbeaten teams in conference action will grow to two as the Wonder Boys are Reddies are both 2-0 in the GAC.
 
This early conference clash was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday along with the rest of the conference slate, but Fall commencement ceremonies occupied Tucker Coliseum over the past few days, pushing the game to Monday for a standalone spotlight.
 
Last season, the Wonder Boys swept the two games against Henderson, winning 84-78 in overtime on the road in early December and then winning 79-65 at home in late February.
 
In terms of all-time series history, this will be the 177th meeting between Tech and Henderson State. In a series beginning in 1930, Henderson holds a 92-84 lead in the series.
 
Tech Tidbits     
The Wonder Boys enter play against Henderson State with a 4-4 overall record and are off to a 2-0 start in Great American Conference play. The Wonder Boys are also in the midst of a four-game winning streak. The streak is the first such of that length since the 2018-19 season. Additionally, the 2-0 start to conference play is the first since the 2016-17 season.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys are averaging 65.5 ppg and rank 12th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank first in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 63.8 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are 11th in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .420 (196-of-467) and limit their opponents to a .403 mark (175-of-434) to rank third.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .229 (36-of-157) to rank 12th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .359 (61-of-170) to rank eighth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .623 as a team (96-of-154) to rank 12th.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring. Taelon Peter, the current GAC Player of the Week, leads the way at 15.4 ppg. Wes Harris is next in scoring at 12.8 ppg while D'Rell Roberts rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.3 ppg.
 
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his third 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 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 seventh season overall, Downey has amassed a 98-76 record. Overall, Downey is in his 16th season as a head coach and has career record of 264-182.
 
Scouting the Reddies   
Henderson State comes into play with a 4-3 overall record and the Reddies are off to a 2-0 start in the conference play. The two GAC wins last week saw Henderson beat Southern Arkansas at home, 75-67, and then turn around to knock off Arkansas-Monticello on the road, 64-61.
 
Statistically, the Reddies are averaging 69.9 ppg on offense to rank 10th in the GAC and are giving up an average of 67.7 ppg to rank third in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, HSU shoots at a .428 clip overall (177-of-414) to rank 10th in the GAC and allow opponents to shoot at a mark of .435 (174-of-400) to rank eighth.
 
From three-point range, the Reddies shoot at a .279 clip (38-of-136) to rank 10th in the GAC and allow opponents to shoot .382 (65-of-170) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Reddies shoot .746 (97-of-130) to rank fifth in the GAC.
 
Individually, the Reddies have two players scoring in double figures and are led by Franck Kamgain at 13.7 ppg. Malik Riddle is next in scoring and rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.6 ppg. Two other Reddies average at least 8.0 ppg.
 
The Reddies are coached by Jimmy Elgas, who is in his eighth season as head coach at Henderson. In his time as a head coach at HSU, Elgas has amassed a 112-89 record. In 2019-20, Elgas had his best year at Henderson, leading the Reddies to a 23-8 overall record and captured the GAC Tournament Championship