WEEKEND INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 8-18 (6-14 GAC)	HENDERSON STATE REDDIES 10-16 (7-13 GAC)	SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS 10-16 (7-13 GAC)
Thursday, February 26 | 7:30 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO Saturday, February 28 | 3 p.m. Tucker Coliseum | Russellville, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO

TIPPING OFF
Down to the final two games of the 2025-26 regular season and the Arkansas Tech men's basketball team is looking to secure a berth in the upcoming Great American Conference Tournament. A total of seven teams are within a game, either in the win column or the loss column, of the eighth and final spot in the tournament, creating post-season urgency this week.
 
In the final week, the Wonder Boys will host Henderson State on Thursday night and then go on the road at Southern Arkansas on Saturday.
 
This will be the 182nd meeting all-time between Tech and Henderson State and the second this season. Henderson won the initial game this season, 63-59, at home back on December 11. The series began in 1930 and the two have played regularly every year since 1936 as conference rivals. Overall, Henderson State leads the series 95-88.
 
Against Southern Arkansas, this will be the 193rd meeting all-time between Tech and SAU and the second this season. SAU won the initial meeting this season, 84-80 in overtime at Tech back on December 15. The series began in 1927 and the two have played regularly every year since as conference rivals. Overall, Tech leads the series 111-82.
 
Tip-off for the Henderson State game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26 while the Southern Arkansas game will have a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, February 28.
 
Live Stats and Live Video links are available at: www.arkansastechsports.com/coverage.
 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING
The Wonder Boys enter the weekend at 8-18 overall and 6-14 in the Great American Conference. They have lost four-straight games and are most-recently coming off a 64-61 loss on the road at East Central this past Saturday. The Wonder Boys enter this weekend one game back of a tie for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming GAC Basketball Tournament.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys average 65.6 ppg and rank 11th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank sixth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 68.7 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 .434 (600-of-1,382). Their opponents are shooting at a .408 mark (590-of-1,446) to rank third.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys shoot at a clip of .333 (191-of-573) to rank sixth in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .304 (190-of-626) to rank third. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys shoot .734 as a team (314-of-428) to rank seventh.
 
Individually, the Wonder Boys have two players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by David Elliott IV and his 12.2 ppg. Connor Davis is next in scoring and rounds out double-figure scoring at 11.2 ppg. Two other players are averaging at least 9.0 ppg as well.
 
Aiden Underdown is leading the team in rebounding and is averaging 5.4 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Elliott IV leads the team and is averaging 3.0 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Wonder Boys are led in steals by Elliott IV at 1.4 steals per game and in blocks by Underdown at 1.0 blocks per game.
 
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his sixth 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 10th season overall, Downey has amassed a 155-129 record. Overall, Downey is in his 19th season as a head coach and has career record of 321-235.
 

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SCOUTING THE REDDIES
Henderson State enters the weekend 10-16 overall and 7-13 in the GAC. They have lost two-straight games with both losses coming on the road last weekend. The Reddies enter this weekend tied with two other teams (Southern Arkansas and Southeastern Oklahoma) for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming GAC Tournament.
 
Statistically, the Reddies average 71.1 ppg and rank eighth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Reddies rank ninth in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 72.3 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Reddies are third in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .460 (705-of-1,531) and allow their opponents to post a .430 mark (641-of-1,489) to rank sixth.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Reddies shoot at a clip of .281 (106-of-377) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .350 (227-of-649) to rank 11th. From the free throw line, the Reddies shoot .699 as a team (332-of-475) to rank 10th.
 
Individually, the Reddies have three players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Zavelon Okoh and his 14.5 ppg. Xavier Owens is next at 12.3 ppg while KJ Sykes rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.4 pgg.
 
Tyson Whybrew is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Sykes leads the team and is averaging 2.5 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Reddies are led in steals by Okoh at 1.7 steals per game and in blocks by Whybrew at 0.9 blocks per game.
 
The Reddies are coached by Jimmy Elgas, who is in his 11th season at Henderson State. In his time at HSU, Elgas has amassed a 159-148 record.
 

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SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas enters this weekend 10-16 overall and 7-13 in the GAC. They have lost their last three games with the most-recent being an 82-75 loss on the road at Southwestern Oklahoma. SAU will have played a road game at Ouachita Baptist on the Thursday night prior to hosting Tech on Saturday.
 
The Muleriders enter this weekend tied with two other teams (Henderson State and Southeastern Oklahoma) for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming GAC Tournament.
 
Statistically, the Muleriders average 73.1 ppg and rank fifth in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Muleriders rank 10th in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 75.3 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Muleriders are fifth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .445 (665-of-1,494) and allow their opponents to post a .459 mark (692-of-1,506) to rank 10th.
 
From beyond-the-arc, the Muleriders shoot at a clip of .350 (194-of-554) to rank first in the GAC while their opponents make three-pointers at a mark of .326 (186-of-570) to rank seventh. From the free throw line, the Muleriders shoot .751 as a team (377-of-502) to rank fifth.
 
Individually, the Muleriders have four players averaging double figures in scoring. They are led by Roderick Williams Jr. and Greg Moore Jr. 12.5 ppg apiece. Jair Horton is next 11.1 ppg followed by Troy'reon Ramos who rounds out double-figure scoring at 10.8 ppg.
 
Horton is the team-leader in rebounding and is averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Ramos leads the team and is averaging 3.0 assists per game.
 
Defensively, the Muleriders are led in steals by Moore Jr. at 1.3 steals per game and in blocks by Williams Jr. at 0.5 blocks per game.
 
The Muleriders are coached by Mark Rutledge, who is in his second season at Southern Arkansas. In his time at SAU, Rutledge has amassed a 22-32 record.