GAME INFORMATION
#24/#25 ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 2-1 (0-0 GAC)	MISSION UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS 0-5 (0-0 AMC)
Monday, November 18 | 11 a.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

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TIPPING OFF
The No. 24/25-ranked Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is back on the court after suffering their first setback of the season this past Saturday and will do so in a late-morning game against Mission University.

It is Tech's annual Screaming Kids Game and about 2,000 or so local elementary-age kids from the River Valley are expected to be in attendance.
 
This will be second meeting all-time between Tech and Mission U (formerly Baptist Bible) with both previous meeting coming back in the 2019-20 season. The Wonder Boys won that game 109-68
 
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 11 a.m. Live Stats and Live Video links are available at: www.arkansastechsports.com/coverage
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys are off to a 2-1 start to their season and are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, losing 69-52 on the road at Dallas Baptist this past Saturday.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 69.3 ppg and rank 11th 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 63.0 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are ninth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .435 (74-of-170) and limit their opponents to a .431 mark (69-of-160) to rank fifth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .347 (25-of-72) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .314 (16-of-51) to rank fourth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .614 as a team (35-of-57) to rank ninth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Cassius Brooks and his 23.0 ppg. Kade Shaffer is next in scoring and rounds out double-figure scoring at 13.7 pgg. Jakob Zenon is not far off double-figures in scoring at 9.7 ppg.
 
Seybian Sims is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 9.0 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Shaffer leads the team and is averaging 4.7 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Shaffer at 2.7 steals per game and in blocks by Sean Cobb at 1.3 blocks per game.
 
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his fifth 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 ninth season overall, Downey has amassed a 137-95 record. Overall, Downey is in his 18th season as a head coach and has career record of 303-201.
 

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SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
Mission U is off to an 0-5 start to their season and will be playing the Wonder Boys as an exhibition game on their schedule. Despite losing their first five games, the Patriots lost three of the games by four points or less.
 
Statistically, the Patriots average 67.6 ppg offensively and 76.6 ppg defensively. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Patriots shoot at an overall clip of .370 (114-of-308) and allow their opponents to post a .404 mark (133-of-329).
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Patriots shoot at a clip of .229 (30-of-131) while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .265 (35-of-132). From the free throw line, the Patriots shoot .690 as a team (80-of-116).
 
Individually, the Patriots have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Jacques Thomas and his 18.4 ppg. Kevin Sorrells Jr. is next at 11.0 ppg while Eli'jah Smith rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.8 pgg.
 
Smith is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.6 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Smith also leads the team and is averaging 3.2 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Patriots are led in steals by Smith at 2.2 steals per game and in blocks by Sorrells Jr. at 0.7 blocks per game.
 
The Patriots are coached by Dallas Meinders, who is in his first season as head coach at Mission University. He previously was on staff starting in 2021-22 under his father and now assistant, Darin Meinders.