GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 12-4 (8-2 GAC)	HARDING BISONS 7-9 (4-6 GAC)
Thursday, January 25 | 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 opens up a second-straight week of home games this Thursday night against conference rival Harding.
 
This will be the 153rd meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Harding in a series that dates back to the 1925-26 season. Overall, Tech leads the series, 87-64. Since the two became conference foes within the GAC prior to the 2011-12 season, the Wonder Boys are 16-10 against Harding.
 
As conference foes, the two teams met twice last season in the regular season with the series being split. Both teams won on their home court with Tech taking the initial meeting, 87-75, and Harding winning the following matchup, 91-67.
 
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 12-4 overall this season and are 8-2 in the GAC. Most-recently, the Wonder Boys rebounded from their first loss at home with a thrilling 82-74 win against Southwestern Oklahoma, also at home, this past Saturday.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 74.4 ppg and rank fifth 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 66.6 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 .467 (421-of-902) and limit their opponents to a .435 mark (361-of-829) to rank fourth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .395 (138-of-349) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .360 (107-of-297) to rank ninth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .690 as a team (211-of-306) to rank ninth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Taelon Peter and his 19.6 ppg. Tommy Kamarad and Cassius Brooks are next in scoring at 11.8 and 11.7 ppg, respectively.
 
Josh Mitchell is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.8 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 2.3 steals per game and in blocks by Josh Mitchell at 1.9 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 122-91 record. Overall, Downey is in his 17th season as a head coach and has career record of 288-197.
 

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SCOUTING THE BISONS
Harding is 7-9 overall this season and are 4-6 in GAC play. The Bisons have won each of their last two games after sweeping games against Southwestern Oklahoma and Northwestern Oklahoma at home last week.
 
Statistically, the Bisons average 75.6 ppg and rank fourth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Bisons rank 11th in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 78.6 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Bisons are 12th in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .454 (423-of-931) and limit their opponents to a .471 mark (465-of-987) to rank 10th.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Bisons shoot at a clip of .356 (124-of-348) to rank fifth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .332 (104-of-313) to rank sixth. From the free throw line, the Bisons shoot .725 as a team (240-of-331) to rank third.
 
Individually, the Bisons have five players averaging double figures in scoring. They are led by Rylie Marshall and his 14.7 ppg. Keyln McBride is next at 11.7 ppg followed closely by Sam Henderson at 11.6 ppg. Sam Smith and Brahm Harris round out double-figure scoring at 11.3 and 11.1 ppg, respectively.
 
Smith is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, McBride leads the team and is averaging 4.3 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Bisons are led in steals by McBride at 1.0 steals per game and in blocks by Harris and Smith at 0.8 blocks per game.
 
The Bisons are coached by Weston Jameson, who is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater, Harding. At Harding, Jameson is 7-9.