RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team fell victim to a late run by Southern Nazarene that ultimately resulted in Tech dropping their home game to SNU by a score of 61-55 on Saturday afternoon inside Tucker Coliseum.
The game-changing run by the Crimson Storm (17-6, 12-5 GAC) started with just over four minutes left to play and with Tech leading by their largest margin of the game, nine points, 55-46.
The preceding four minutes or so of action, however, saw the Wonder Boys (8-14, 5-11 GAC) go on a significant run themselves as they turned a three-point disadvantage with just under 11 minutes left to play into the aforementioned nine-point lead with right at five minutes to go.
For Tech, their run saw them make five-straight baskets with two coming from beyond the arc.
Following the last bucket of the Tech run, SNU sparked their run on a successful trip to the free throw line where Tyler McGhie went 3-for-3 after he was fouled on a three-point attempt.
SNU then began to work their way back into the game and eventually tied the game at 55-all with 1:59 left to play. During that time, the Wonder Boys suddenly went ice cold from the field, missing each of their next four shots.
Following a fifth-consecutive miss, the Crimson Storm had completed their comeback and went ahead on a painted jumper with just under a minute left.
SNU would stay out in front and iced the game away with a perfect 4-of-4 showing from the charity stripe over the final seconds of the game.
The Wonder Boys had three players in double figures in scoring with
Cameron Kennedy leading the way with 17 points. He was 6-of-12 overall from the floor and 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Taelon Peter was next with 13 points off the bench. He was also 3-of-3 from three-point range.
Niko Gosnell rounded out double-figure scoring with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Tech will continue its marathon of a schedule this coming Monday night as they are set to take to the road and play at Harding for a makeup of the game previously postponed back on January 13. Tip-off for the game against the Bisons is scheduled for 7 p.m.
