GAME INFORMATION
(2) ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 22-6 (18-4 GAC)	(7) HARDING BISONS 12-16 (9-13 GAC)
Thursday, March 6 | Noon FireLake Arena | Shawnee, Okla. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | GAME NOTES

TIPPING OFF
Fresh off of securing a share of the program's 22^nd regular season conference championship, the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team begins its 2023-24 GAC Tournament run with an opening round game with No. 7-seed Harding.
 
This will be the 155th meeting all-time between Arkansas Tech and Harding in a series that dates back to the 1925-26 season. Overall, Tech leads the series, 89-64. Since the two became conference foes within the GAC prior to the 2011-12 season, the Wonder Boys are 18-10 against Harding.
 
This will be the third game between the Wonder Boys and Bisons this season. Tech won both prior meetings with a 91-58 victory at home on January 25 and an 89-66 win on the road on February 15.
 
Tip-off for Thursday's opening round game is scheduled for Noon from FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys ended the regular season 22-6 overall and 18-4 in the GAC to claim a share of the conference championship. By way of tie-breaker scenarios with Southeastern Oklahoma, the Wonder Boys will be the No. 2-seed in the GAC Tournament. Tech is set to enter the tournament in search of the program's fifth tournament title and will do so riding a seven-game winning streak.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 74.5 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 65.8 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are fourth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .469 (741-of-1,580) and limit their opponents to a .426 mark (617-of-1,450) to rank first.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .401 (252-of-628) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .356 (188-of-528) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .711 as a team (352-of-495) to rank fifth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Taelon Peter and his 20.3 ppg. Tommy Kamarad and Cassius Brooks are next in scoring at 12.2 ppg and 11.9 ppg, respectively.
 
Peter 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 4.8 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Peter at 1.9 steals per game and in blocks by Josh 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 132-93 record. Overall, Downey is in his 17th season as a head coach and has career record of 298-199.
 

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SCOUTING THE BISONS
Harding ended the regular season 12-16 overall this season 9-13 in GAC play, tying with Southern Arkansas, East Central and Oklahoma Baptist. The Bisons lost their last four games of the regular season, but still were able to qualify for the conference tournament as the No. 7-seed thanks to various tie-breaker scenarios.
 
Statistically, the Bisons average 75.3 ppg and rank fourth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Bisons rank 12th in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 78.6 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Bisons are seventh in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .455 (719-of-1,580) and limit their opponents to a .469 mark (803-of-1,713) to rank 11th.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Bisons shoot at a clip of .375 (241-of-642) to rank fourth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .360 (213-of-592) to rank ninth. From the free throw line, the Bisons shoot .751 as a team (429-of-571) to rank second.
 
Individually, the Bisons have five players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Rylie Marshall and his 14.6 ppg. Sam Smith is next at 12.7 ppg followed by Sam Henderson at 10.9 ppg. Keyln McBride and Brahm Harris round out double-figure scoring at 10.7 and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
 
Smith is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.1 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, McBride leads the team and is averaging 3.4 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Bisons are led in steals by McBride at 1.0 steals per game and in blocks by Abou Gbane at 0.8 blocks per game.
 
The Bisons are coached by Weston Jameson, who is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater, Harding. At Harding, Jameson is 12-16.