GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 3-1 (0-0 GAC)	MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS 5-1 (0-0 MIAA)
Friday, November 22 | 7 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO

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TIPPING OFF
The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team continues its early season non-conference slate and have a big one on tap at home on Friday night as they are set to take on Missouri Western in a key in-region contest.
 
This will be fourth meeting all-time between Tech and Missouri Western and the first since 2008. It is also the first meeting between the two at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. Missouri Western has won the three previous meetings in the series.
 
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.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 3-1 start to their season and are coming off a 97-70 win over Mission University in their annual Screaming Kids Game this past Monday.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 76.3 ppg and rank ninth 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 64.8 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 .443 (109-of-246) and limit their opponents to a .415 mark (86-of-207) to rank fifth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .345 (39-of-113) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .296 (21-of-71) to rank fourth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .667 as a team (48-of-72) to rank ninth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Cassius Brooks and his 21.5 ppg. Kade Shaffer is next in scoring at 13.5 ppg. Jakob Zenon rounds out double-figure scoring at 12.5 pgg.
 
Seybian Sims is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Shaffer leads the team and is averaging 5.0 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Shaffer and Trey Allen at 2.3 steals per game and in blocks by Sean Cobb at 1.0 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 138-95 record. Overall, Downey is in his 18th season as a head coach and has career record of 304-201.
 

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SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is off to a 5-1 start to their season and have won five-straight. Their loss came in the season-opener against Lubbock Christian and saw MWSU lose by 40 points, 88-48.
 
Statistically, the Griffons average 70.8 ppg and rank 11th in the MIAA. On the defensive end of the court, the Griffons rank second in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 66.3 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Griffons are 10th in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .458 (147-of-321) and allow their opponents to post a .464 mark (143-of-308) to rank 11th.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Griffons shoot at a clip of .317 (40-of-126) to rank 13th in the MIAA while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .359 (47-of-131) to rank 11th. From the free throw line, the Griffons shoot .752 as a team (91-of-121) to rank second.
 
Individually, the Griffons have four players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Zane Nelson and his 17.0 ppg. Zion Swader is next at 12.0 ppg. Julius Dixon and Justin Bubak round out double-figure scoring at 10.5 pgg each.
 
Dixon is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Nelson leads the team and is averaging 4.2 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Griffons are led in steals by Swader at 2.5 steals per game and in blocks by Kiani Saxon at 1.0 blocks per game.
 
The Griffons are coached by Will Martin, who is in his fifth season at Missouri Western. In his time as a head coach at MWSU, Martin has amassed a 64-58 record.