RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team lost at home on Thursday night to Henderson State by a score of 75-61.
After Henderson State took an early lead on a made three-pointer at the 17:01 mark, the Reddies seized control of the game and built out a lead as large as 11 points by the 5:40 mark. The Wonder Boys would make a run after that apex first-half lead by Henderson as Tech scored seven-straight over the next minute or so of action to make it a four-point game with 4:43 on the clock.
Scoring was limited down the stretch of the first half, but a three-pointer near the end sent the Reddies into the locker room with an eight-point lead, 40-32.
The Wonder Boys came out strong in the second half and by the 16:18 mark had pulled within two points of the lead, 45-43. By the 13:54 mark, the Wonder Boys had forced a tie score at 47-all and on their next defensive possession came away with a steal and had a breakaway chance on the other for the lead, but a layup drew too much iron and did not fall.
That momentum swing proved to be the defining moment of the game as the Reddies came back down after grabbing the defensive rebound and scored on a second-chance opportunity to regain their lead. The Wonder Boys would remain close and on several occasions over the next three-to-four minutes of action were within a bucket of tying the score or even taking a lead.
Unfortunately, every time the Wonder Boys were able to get that close, the Reddies had a quick answer to keep Tech at bay. The final of those instances came at the 9:14 mark when the Reddies responded on their ensuing possession following a tip-in basket by
Albright Obode that pulled Tech within two points of the lead, 56-54.
The Reddies then were able to create some significant separation from the Wonder Boys as they pushed their lead out to double digits by the 6:15 mark. The Wonder Boys briefly got the deficit back down to double digits, but the Reddies eventually went on to finish the game with a 14-point margin.
Cassius Brooks led the team in scoring with 19 points.
Braden Tanner was the only other Wonder Boy in double-digits with 10 off the bench. Obode led the team in rebounds with a season-high 11.
The Wonder Boys will now hit the road and look to find their way back into the win column as they travel to Magnolia to play Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
