RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team delivered the first conference loss of the season to Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday night as the Wonder Boys beat the Bison at home 63-61.
The two-point margin of victory was much closer than what had transpired through the first 20 minutes of action. Shooting 57% overall from the floor (16-of-28), the Wonder Boys really hit their stride late in the first half and turned a one-point lead with 8:36 to play into a 10-point lead, 32-22, by the 4:10 mark.
The Wonder Boys would continue to pull away and built up a lead as large as 17 points before going to the locker room with 16-point advantage, 43-27, at the break.
Unfortunately, the second half was a different story for the Wonder Boys offensively as they were limited to just 27% shooting overall (7-of-26). That cold shooting output kept the door open for the Bison to methodically make their way back into the game.
By the 5:08 mark, the Bison had clawed all the way back and tied the score at 55-all. Not long after that, they grabbed their first lead since early in the first half, but only by a point. The lead quickly changed back to Tech a layup by
Cassius Brooks. Shortly thereafter, Oklahoma Baptist split a trip to the free throw line to tie the score again, this time at 58-all and with 4:11 to play.
The score would remain gridlocked at 58-all until the Bison hit a three-pointer at the 2:22 mark.
Brooks would make a pair of free throws just under the two-minute mark to make it a one-point game. About a minute later, Brooks was back at the line and made two more free throws to put the Wonder Boys up by a point, 62-61, with 45 seconds left.
After forcing a missed layup, the Wonder Boys got the defensive rebound and were later fouled with about 16 seconds left. They would split the trip to the line to push their lead to just two points, allowing Oklahoma Baptist an opportunity to either tie the score or hit a go-ahead three on the potential final possession of the game.
The Bison would ultimately elect to go for the tie and got a mid-range shot off at the buzzer, but it was no good, giving the Wonder Boys the thrilling win, 63-61.
The Wonder Boys got scoring from all nine players who saw action with just one going for double figures.
Braden Tanner was that double-digit scorer as had 15 points. Three others had at least eight points with
Jakob Zenon having nine while
Carlos Ramsey Jr. and Brooks had eight points.
The Wonder Boys will look to continue the positive momentum on Saturday afternoon as they are at home against Southern Nazarene. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
