GAME INFORMATION
(8) ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 25-6 (18-4 GAC)	(1) #2 MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS 29-2 (20-2 NSIC)
Saturday, March 16 | 5 p.m. Taylor Center | Mankato, Minn. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($) | LIVE AUDIO | GAME NOTES

TIPPING-OFF
In the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the first time since 2016-17 after a thrilling run through the Great American Conference Tournament, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is set to take on the tall task of playing host and top-seed Minnesota State in the first round of the regional tournament on Saturday afternoon.
 
This will be the second meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Minnesota State with the initial game coming in the NCAA Central Region Tournament back in 2013, also held in Mankato.
 
Tip-off for Saturday's quarterfinal game is scheduled for 5 p.m. from the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minnesota.
 

---

TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys enter their first NCAA Central Region Tournament since 2016-17 at 25-6 overall after winning three-straight games during the Great American Conference Tournament. Overall, the Wonder Boys have won 10-straight, marking the second-longest streak of the season. Earlier, the Wonder Boys ripped off an 11-game winning streak after starting the season 0-2.
 
At the 2024 DII Central Region Tournament, the Wonder Boys are the No. 8-seed and have drawn top-seed and host Minnesota State in the first game of the tournament.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 73.5 ppg and rank fifth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank first in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.1 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are sixth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .463 (806-of-1,739) and limit their opponents to a .422 mark (676-of-1,603) to rank first.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .389 (270-of-694) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .352 (208-of-591) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .722 as a team (397-of-550) to rank fifth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Taelon Peter and his 19.0 ppg. Cassius Brooks and Tommy Kamarad are next in scoring at 12.9 ppg and 12.3 ppg, respectively.
 
Josh Mitchell is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Kade Shaffer leads the team and is averaging 4.7 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Peter at 1.8 steals per game and in blocks by Mitchell at 1.7 blocks per game.
 
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his fourth 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 eighth season overall, Downey has amassed a 135-93 record. Overall, Downey is in his 17th season as a head coach and has career record of 301-199.
 

---

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State enters the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament 29-2 overall and ranked as the No. 2 team in the country in the latest NABC Top-25 Coaches Poll. The Mavericks are riding a 10-game winning streak and recently captured the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament Championship, blowing out No. 2-seed Minnesota Duluth, 97-77.
 
One of the top teams in the country all season, the Mavericks are in the NCAA postseason for the 17^th time and are hosting for the fifth time.
 
Statistically, the Mavericks average 86.5 ppg and rank first in the NSIC. On the defensive end of the court, the Mavericks rank eighth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 71.4 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Mavericks are first in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .491 (984-of-2,006) and limit their opponents to a .421 mark (826-of-1,960) to rank second.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Mavericks shoot at a clip of .378 (282-of-746) to rank first in the NSIC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .323 (234-of-725) to rank fifth. From the free throw line, the Mavericks shoot .753 as a team (430-of-571) to rank sixth.
 
Individually, the Mavericks have five players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Malik Willingham and his 19.1 ppg. Kyreese Willingham is next at 14.3 ppg followed by Justin Eagins at 12.6 ppg and Dylan Peeters at 10.5 ppg. Elijah Hazekamp rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.1 ppg.
 
Peters is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, M. WIllingham leads the team and is averaging 4.4 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Mavericks are led in steals by M. Willingham at 1.5 steals per game and in blocks by Peters at 1.1 blocks per game.
 
The Mavericks are coached by Matt Margenthaler, who is in his 23rd season at Minnesota State. In his time at MSU, Margenthaler is 482-211.