GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 7-2 (3-0 GAC)	SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERDIERS 4-4 (2-1 GAC)
Tuesday, December 17 | 4 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO GAME NOTES

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TIPPING OFF
The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is now through with non-conference action and will play a GAC-exclusive schedule the rest of the season. On tap is their final game of 2023 in which they will be at home against Southern Arkansas.
 
This will be the 189^th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas in a series that dates back to the 1927-28 season. Overall, Tech holds a 107-81 lead in the series. Since the two became charter members of the GAC prior to the 2011-12 season, the Wonder Boys are 16-15 against Southern Arkansas.
 
As conference foes, the two teams met twice last season in the regular season and once in the championship game of the GAC Tournament. SAU would win all three matchups with a 62-53 win on their home court, an 85-83 win at Tech in double overtime and an 89-69 win in the conference championship game.
 
Tip-off for Sunday afternoon's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. inside Tucker Coliseum.
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys are 7-2 overall this season and are 3-0 in the early goings of the GAC schedule. Most-recently, the Wonder Boys extended their winning streak to seven games with a 74-46 win at home against Arkansas Baptist this past Tuesday.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 76.9 ppg and rank fourth 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 68.4 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are fourth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .479 (247-of-516) and limit their opponents to a .438 mark (208-of-475) to rank fifth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .411 (76-of-185) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .341 (60-of-176) to rank sixth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .689 as a team (122-of-177) to rank sixth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Taelon Peter and his 19.0 ppg. Cassius Brooks and Seybian Sims are next in scoring at 12.1 ppg and 12.0, respectively. Tommy Kamarad is just off double figure scoring with an average of 9.4 ppg.
 
Josh Mitchell is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Kade Shaffer leads the team and is averaging 3.1 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Peter at 2.2 steals per game and in blocks by Mitchell at 1.6 blocks per game.
 
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his fourth 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 eighth season overall, Downey has amassed a 117-89 record. Overall, Downey is in his 17th season as a head coach and has career record of 283-195.
 

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SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas is 4-4 overall this season and are 2-1 in GAC play. The Muleriders are coming off a 78-68 win at home against Ouachita Baptist.
 
Statistically, the Muleriders average 69.0 ppg and rank ninth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Muleriders rank third in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 67.3 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Muleriders are ninth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .434 (203-of-468) and limit their opponents to a .422 mark (196-of-465) to rank second.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Muleriders shoot at a clip of .302 (55-of-182) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .310 (58-of-187) to rank third. From the free throw line, the Muleriders shoot .674 as a team (91-of-135) to rank ninth.
 
Individually, the Muleriders have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Gregory Hammond Jr. and his 16.7 ppg. Carel Ray Jr. is next at 14.9 ppg while Anthony Igiede rounds out double-figure scoring at 11.9 pgg. Two others are averaging at least 9.0 ppg.
 
Ray Jr. is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Mohamed Traore leads the team and is averaging 3.7 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Muleriders are led in steals by Ray Jr. and Nevi Tell at 1.3 steals per game and in blocks by Igiege at 0.9 blocks per game.
 
The Muleriders are coached by Logan Quinn, who is in his second season at Southern Arkansas. In his time at SAU, Quinn has a 26-14 overall record. Last season, Quinn led the Muleriders to 22 wins and a GAC Tournament Championship.