WEEKEND INFORMATION
#24 ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 0-0 (0-0 GAC)	MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS 0-0 (0-0 MIAA)	NEWMAN JETS 0-0 (0-0 MIAA)
Friday, November 8 | 7:30 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO Saturday, November 9 | 4:30 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

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TIPPING OFF
The 2024-25 season for the No. 24-ranked Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is set to open this weekend with the annual GAC/MIAA Crossover Challenge.
 
This year, the Wonder Boys will not have to travel to compete as the regional crossover event is taking place on their home court inside Tucker Coliseum. Joining the Wonder Boys in the crossover are fellow GAC member, Southwestern Oklahoma as well as MIAA members, Missouri Southern and Newman.
 
The schedule for this weekend will see the Wonder Boys first play Missouri Southern on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The following day, on Saturday, Tech will take on Newman starting at 4:30 p.m.
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys finished last season with a 25-7 record overall and an 18-4 mark in the Great American Conference to earn them a share of the regular season championship. They would go on to make a run through the conference tournament and claim that title to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Central Region Tournament where they ultimately fell in the opening round to top-ranked and eventual National Champion, Minnesota State.
 
With all the success of last season, the Wonder Boys are picked as the preseason favorite in the GAC according to the league's head coaches and are ranked nationally No. 24 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) entering the 2024-25 season.
 
Statistically last year, the Wonder Boys averaged 73.3 ppg and ranked fifth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys ranked first in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.4 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys were sixth in the conference as they shot at an overall clip of .463 (831-of-1,796) and limited their opponents to a .423 mark (701-of-1,1659) to rank first.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shot at a clip of .388 (276-of-712) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents made three-pointers at a mark of .359 (221-of-616) to rank ninth. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shot .725 as a team (409-of-564) to rank fifth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys had three players average double figures in scoring. The top-scorer returning for the Wonder Boys this season is Cassius Brooks and his 13.2 ppg average. In his first year with the Wonder Boys, Brooks was an Honorable Mention All-GAC selection and later became the GAC Tournament MVP after he emerged as the top scoring option late in the year.
 
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 135-94 record. Overall, Downey is in his 18th season as a head coach and has career record of 301-200.
 

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SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern ended their 2023-24 season 13-16 overall and posted an 11-11 mark in the MIAA to finish eighth in the conference standings. In the conference tournament, the Lions lost their opening-round game to No. 9-seed Missouri Western.
 
Entering this season, the Lions have been picked to finish 10^th in the MIAA according to the league's preseason head coaches poll. They are set to welcome in nine new players to their roster to help bolster their team alongside their seven returners.
 
Statistically last season, the Lions averaged 72.3 ppg on offense to rank seventh in the MIAA and gave up an average of 71.1 ppg to rank 10th in the MIAA. In terms of field goal percentages, Missouri Southern shot at a .464 clip overall (748-of-1,613) to rank sixth and allowed opponents to shot at a mark of .433 (737-of-1,704) to rank fifth.
 
From three-point range, the Lions shot at a .341 clip (170-of-505) to rank ninth in the MIAA and allowed opponents to shoot .328 (233-of-710) from range to rank fifth. At the charity stripe, the Lions shot .757 (386-of-510) to rank fifth in the MIAA.
 
Individually, the Lions had five players score in double figures in 2023-24 and were led by Darius Dawson at 14.0 ppg. Their leading returning scorer, however, is Martin Macenis. Last season, Macenis was the third-leading scorer on the team at 11.5 ppg
 
The Lions are coached by Sam McMahon, who is in his third season at Missouri Southern. In his time as a head coach at Missouri Southern, McMahon has amassed a 30-29 record.
 

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SCOUTING THE JETS
Newman ended their 2023-24 season 8-20 overall and posted a 4-18 mark in the MIAA to finish 13^th in the 14-team league.
 
Ahead of this season, the Jets were picked to finish 14^th in the MIAA according to the league's preseason coaches poll. They are set to welcome in 14 new players to their roster to help bolster their team alongside their five returners.
 
Statistically last season, the Jets averaged 72.1 ppg on offense to rank eighth in the MIAA and gave up an average of 80.1 ppg to rank 13th in the MIAA. In terms of field goal percentages, Newman shot at a .435 clip overall (731-of-1,681) to rank 12th and allowed opponents to shot at a mark of .488 (794-of-1,628) to rank 13th.
 
From three-point range, the Jets shot at a .337 clip (223-of-661) to rank 10th in the MIAA and allowed opponents to shoot .373 (233-of-624) from range to rank 12th. At the charity stripe, the Jets shot .709 (334-of-471) to rank 12th in the MIAA.
 
Individually, the Jets had four players score in double figures in 2023-24 and were led by Stevie Strong at 14.8 ppg. Their leading returning scorer, however, is Sam Somerhalder. Last season, Somerhalder was the fourth-leading scorer on the team at 10.3 ppg
 
The Jets are coached by R.J. Allen, who is in his eighth season at Newman. In his time as a head coach at Newman, Allen has amassed a 70-120 record.