SEARCY, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball picked up right where they left off from the last time they played Harding and put forth an offensive display of power on Thursday night on the road, beating their rivals 89-66.
With the win, the Wonder Boys have officially clinched a berth in the 2024 Great American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament this coming March.
In two games played against Harding this season, the Wonder Boys have averaged 90 points per game and have shot 54% overall from the floor (66-of-123). While the first game against Harding back on January 25 was never really in question, Thursday night's rematch was more closely played, at least through the first half of action.
In the first half, both teams shot 50% overall from the floor, but Tech had more makes overall, 16-to-11, and more from three-point range, 8-to-5. What kept Harding in the game and ultimately only down six points at the break was the discrepancy at the free throw line. In the first half, Harding attempted 19 free throws and made 13 of them. Meanwhile, Tech only had seven attempts, but made good on six of them.
Out of halftime, the Bisons managed to keep game close through the first two minutes of action, but a 6-0 spurt by the Wonder Boys pushed their lead back out to double-digits at the 16:10 mark. From there, the Wonder Boys would only go on to build on their lead, pushing it to 20 by 10:41 mark and swelling it as large as 24 by the 2:37 mark.
In the second half, Harding cooled down offensively and only scored 26 points off 35% shooting overall (9-of-26). Conversely, the Wonder Boys heated up beyond the boiling point and shot 63% overall from the floor (17-of-27) and scored 43 points.
Taelon Peter led the way offensively for the Wonder Boys with 30 points. In what was his second game of the season with at least 30 points, Peter was super-efficient shooting the ball at 9-of-16 overall, 4-of-9 from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Braden Tanner was next in scoring with a season-high 19 points. He did so on 7-of-11 shooting overall which included 5-of-8 success from three-point range.
Kade Shaffer rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points while three others scored at least eight points for the Wonder Boys.
Josh Mitchell had nine points while
Tommy Kamarad and
Sean Cobb added eight points.
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for a Saturday road game at Ouachita Baptist. Tip-off from Bill Vining Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m.
