GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 8-2 (4-0 GAC)	EAST CENTRAL TIGERS 7-3 (3-1 GAC)
Thursday, January 4 | 7:30 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | GAME NOTES

TIPPING OFF
The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is set to resume their regular season schedule following an 18-day layoff over the Christmas break and will do so this Thursday night at home against East Central in a GAC showdown.
 
This will be the 41^st meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and East Central in a series that dates back to the 1957 season. Overall, the series is tied at 20-all. Since the two became charter members of the GAC prior to the 2011-12 season, the Wonder Boys are 12-13 against East Central.
 
As conference foes, the two teams met twice last season in the regular season and once in the opening round of the GAC Tournament. The regular season series was split with Tech winning on the road, 68-60, and losing at home, 70-63. The Wonder Boys were victorious in the GAC tournament, winning 68-62.
 
Tip-off for Thursday evening's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside Tucker Coliseum.
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys are 8-2 overall this season and are 4-0 in the early goings of the GAC schedule. Most-recently, the Wonder Boys extended their winning streak to eight games with a 69-57 come-from-behind win at home against Southern Arkansas back on December 17.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 76.1 ppg and rank fifth 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 67.3 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 .472 (266-of-564) and limit their opponents to a .433 mark (231-of-533) to rank fourth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .401 (81-of-202) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .339 (65-of-192) to rank sixth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .688 as a team (148-of-215) to rank 10th.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Taelon Peter and his 19.6 ppg. Seybian Sims and Cassius Brooks are next in scoring at 12.0 and 11.4 ppg, respectively. Tommy Kamarad is just off double figure scoring with an average of 9.6 ppg.
 
Josh Mitchell is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Brooks leads the team and is averaging 3.1 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Peter at 2.3 steals per game and in blocks by Mitchell at 1.8 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 118-89 record. Overall, Downey is in his 17th season as a head coach and has career record of 284-195.
 

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SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central is 7-3 overall this season and are 3-1 in GAC play. The Tigers have won three-straight games with two of those coming in GAC action. Their most-recent game played was back on December 18 when ECU beat John Brown University 78-55 at home.
 
Statistically, the Tigers average 71.4 ppg and rank eighth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Tigers rank first in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.2 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Tigers are seventh in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .466 (253-of-543) and limit their opponents to a .447 mark (241-of-539) to rank seventh.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Tigers shoot at a clip of .356 (79-of-222) to rank sixth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .353 (79-of-224) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Tigers shoot .754 as a team (129-of-171) to rank second.
 
Individually, the Tigers have two players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Keyon Thomas and his 15.4 ppg. Godsgift Ezedinma is next and rounds out double-figure scoring at 12.1 pgg.
 
Mohamed Elgohary is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Thomas leads the team and is averaging 3.4 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Tigers are led in steals by Ezedinma and Thomas at 1.4 steals per game and in blocks by Elgohary at 0.8 blocks per game.
 
The Tigers are coached by Daniel Wheeler, who is in his second season at East Central. In his time at ECU, Wheeler has a 25-14 overall record.