GAME INFORMATION
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ARKANSAS TECH
WONDER BOYS
5-5 (3-1 GAC) |
SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA
SAVAGE STORM
6-3 (3-1 GAC) |
EAST CENTRAL
TIGERS
6-4 (1-3 GAC) |
Thursday, January 5 | 7:30 p.m.
Bloomer Sullivan Arena | Durant, Okla.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO
Saturday, January 7 | 3 p.m.
Kerr Activities Center | Ada, Okla.
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO
GAME NOTES
TECH | SE | ECU
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TIPPING OFF
Following a 19-day break from game action for the Christmas holiday break, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is eager to return the court and play a pair of games this coming weekend.
The resumption of the season schedule will immediately challenge the Wonder Boys as they are on the road in Oklahoma each of the first two weekends back. The first of those weekend trips has Tech taking on Southeastern Oklahoma this Thursday and East Central this Saturday.
Last season, the Wonder Boys lost both matchups with Southeastern Oklahoma, who went on to win the GAC Regular Season Championship and split the series against East Central, winning the game at home inside Tucker Coliseum, but dropping the road game.
In terms of all-time series histories, this will be the 36th meeting between Tech and Southeastern Oklahoma and the 37th meeting against East Central. Against Southeastern, Tech holds a 20-16 lead in the series. Against ECU, the series is tied 18-18.
Tech Tidbits
The Wonder Boys enter play this weekend with a 5-5 overall record and are off to a 3-1 start in Great American Conference play. In their most-recent action back on December 17, the Wonder Boys had their five-game winning streak snapped as they fell on the road at Southern Arkansas by a score of 62-53.
Statistically, the Wonder Boys are averaging 65.0 ppg and rank 12th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank second in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 63.6 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 .413 (236-of-571) and limit their opponents to a .401 mark (220-of-549) to rank second.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .250 (52-of-208) to rank 12th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .351 (74-of-211) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .633 as a team (126-of-199) to rank 12th.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring.
Taelon Peter leads the way at 15.3 ppg.
Wes Harris is the other player in double figures with an average of 12.8 ppg. Three other Wonder Boys average at least 7.5 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 99-76 record. Overall, Downey is in his 16th season as a head coach and has career record of 265-183.
Scouting the Savage Storm
Southeastern Oklahoma enters this weekend with a 6-3 overall record and are 3-1 in GAC play. The Savage Storm are in the midst of a four-game winning streak that started back on December 3 with a dominant 112-87 win over Southwestern Oklahoma. During that four-game stretch, the Savage Storm are averaging just under 100 points a game at 99.3 ppg.
Statistically for the year, the Savage Storm are averaging 89.0 ppg on offense to rank first in the GAC and are giving up an average of 82.0 ppg to rank 12th in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Southeastern shoots at a .489 clip overall (295-of-603) to rank second in the league and allow opponents to shoot at a mark of .467 (280-of-600) to rank 11th.
From three-point range, the Savage Storm shoot at a .415 clip (97-of-234) to rank second in the GAC and allow opponents to shoot .369 (80-of-217) from range to rank 11th. At the charity stripe, the Savage Storm shoot .809 (114-of-141) to rank first in the GAC.
Individually, the Savage Storm have five players scoring in double figures and are led by
Jett Sternberger at 19.8 ppg. Brennen Burns is next in scoring at 13.4 ppg followed by
Kody Clouet at 12.8 ppg.
Landon Condiff and
Kyle Leslie round out double-figure scoring at 12.3 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
The Savage Storm are coached by
Kelly Green, who is in his 12th season as head coach at Southeastern. In his time, Green has led the Savage Storm to 15 or more wins and winning seasons six times with three of those campaigns coming within the last four years.
During that stretch, Green and the Savage Storm have won at least 23 games three times. The only exception to that was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season where the team only played 19 total games.
Green has also twice led the team to a NCAA Regional Tournament with appearances in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Scouting the Tigers
East Central enters this weekend at 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the GAC. Prior to playing Tech on Saturday, the Tigers will have played at home against Harding on Thursday night. Heading into their game with Harding, ECU has lost three of their last four games with the lone win being a blowout 104-35 win against NCCAA-affiliated Randall University.
Statistically, the Tigers are averaging 76.1 ppg on offense to rank fourth in the GAC and are giving up an average of 64.5 ppg to rank third in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, ECU shoots at a .508 clip overall (287-of-565) to rank first in the league and allow opponents to shoot at a mark of .391 (224-of-573) to rank first as well.
From three-point range, the Tigers shoot at a .381 clip (88-of-231) to rank fourth in the GAC and allow opponents to shoot .265 (60-of-226) from range to rank first. At the charity stripe, the Tigers shoot .756 (99-of-131) to rank fourth in the GAC.
Individually, the Tigers have three players scoring in double figures and are led by
Keyon Thomas at 15.7 ppg.
Barron Tanner Jr. is next in scoring at 10.6 ppg.
Jakeem Acres rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.5 ppg. Two other Tigers are averaging at least 8.0 ppg.
The Tigers are coached by
Daniel Wheeler, who is in his first season as head coach at East Central. Prior to coming to ECU, Wheeler spent seven years as an assistant coach at the University of Central Oklahoma. At UCO, Wheeler helped lead the Bronchos to 112 wins and three 20-plus win campaigns. UCO also reached the MIAA Tournament three times and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament in his final year there in 2021-22.
