Arkansas Tech University will open the Great American Conference portion of its 2017-18 men’s and women’s basketball schedules this week by traveling to Oklahoma for a pair of doubleheaders.
The Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will face East Central University at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, in Ada before traveling on to Durant for a 1 and 3 p.m. doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Nov. 18.
ATU Golden Suns (1-0) vs. ECU Tigers (0-0)
When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Kerr Activities Center, Ada, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 10-6
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech opened its season on Sunday with an 86-49 non-conference victory over Lane College. Five Golden Suns reached double figures in scoring, led by senior forward Cheyenne North and freshman guard Ke’Vonshaye Stackhouse with 13 points apiece. Arkansas Tech is 2-5 all-time in road women’s basketball games against East Central, and the Suns have only left Ada with a win one time since the GAC was began competition in 2011-12. ECU topped Tech 67-55 on Feb. 23, 2017, in the Suns’ most recent visit to the Kerr Activities Center.
About the Tigers: East Central will make its 2017-18 women’s basketball regular season debut on Thursday. The Tigers dropped a 110-46 decision to Oklahoma State University in an exhibition game on Oct. 29. ECU was 14-14 overall and reached the semifinal round of the GAC Tournament last year. Senior guard Devon Branch led the Tigers in scoring (14.1 points per game) in 2016-17.
ATU Wonder Boys (2-0) vs. ECU Tigers (0-0)
When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kerr Activities Center, Ada, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ECU leads 15-10
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech defeated the University of Minnesota-Crookston 114-105 and Concordia University-St. Paul 86-67 last weekend during a season-opening classic at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. The Wonder Boys lead the GAC in scoring offense (100 points per game). Five ATU players — junior guard Alex Brown (15 points per game), senior forward Trevin Woods (15 points per game), freshman guard R.J. Glasper (14.5 points per game), junior guard Harris Brown (14.5 points per game) and senior guard Montrell Williams (13.5 points per game) — are averaging double figures in scoring.
About the Tigers: East Central has yet to play a regular season game in 2017-18, but the Tigers do have three exhibition games under their collective belt. They lost exhibitions against NCAA Division I members the University of Oklahoma 114-78, New Mexico State University 81-55 and the University of Texas-San Antonio 92-59. ECU was 25-8 overall, GAC regular season co-champion and GAC Tournament champion in 2016-17. The Tigers reached the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division II Tournament.
