GAME INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 6-8 (3-5 GAC)	EAST CENTRAL TIGERS 5-9 (2-6 GAC)
Thursday, January 16 | 7:30 p.m. Kerr Activities Center | Ada, Okla. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | ATU NOTES

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TIPPING OFF
The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is set to embark on a two-week stretch of games taking place away from home starting Thursday night at East Central.
 
This will be 43rd meeting all-time between Tech and East Central. In a series that dates back to 1957, the series has been played in earnest since 2012 when they two became conference rivals. Overall, Arkansas Tech holds a 22-20 advantage in the series.
 
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Kerr Activities Center on the campus of East Central. Live Stats and Live Video links are available at: www.arkansastechsports.com/coverage
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys are 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the GAC. Tech is coming off tough loss at home their last time out as their comeback effort against Southern Nazarene fell just short this past Saturday.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 67.4 ppg and rank 11th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank third in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 66.3 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are ninth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .430 (329-of-766) and allow their opponents to shoot at a .427 mark (323-of-757) to rank fifth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .288 (89-of-309) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .338 (98-of-290) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .708 as a team (196-of-277) to rank eighth.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have one player averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Cassius Brooks and his 17.9 ppg. Five other Wonder Boys are averaging at least 7.0 ppg
 
Seybian Sims is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Kade Shaffer leads the team and is averaging 3.9 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Brooks at 1.4 steals per game and in blocks by Sean Cobb at 0.9 blocks per game.
 
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 141-102 record. Overall, Downey is in his 18th season as a head coach and has career record of 307-208.
 

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SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central is 5-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play. The Tigers are coming off a win their time out as they surged from behind and overtook Southern Arkansas on the road, 70-68, this past Saturday afternoon. It was the Tigers' first road win of the season.
 
Statistically, the Tigers average 71.9 ppg and rank eighth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Tigers rank sixth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 71.7 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Tigers are sixth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .462 (362-of-784) and allow their opponents to post a .402 mark (349-of-869) to rank first.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Tigers shoot at a clip of .308 (98-of-318) to rank ninth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .317 (115-of-363) to rank fifth. From the free throw line, the Tigers shoot .649 as a team (185-of-285) to rank 10th.
 
Individually, the Tigers have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Bishop Jones and his 19.1 ppg. Mark Rucha is next at 11.4 ppg while Nikk Williams rounds out double figure scoring at 10.8 ppg.
 
Williams is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Rucha leads the team and is averaging 3.5 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Tigers are led in steals by Rucha at 1.2 steals per game and in blocks by Jones at 1.0 blocks per game.
 
The Tigers are coached by Daniel Wheeler, who is in his third season at East Central. In his time at ECU, Wheeler is 36-35.