Arkansas Tech University will continue to pursue the 2016-17 Great American Conference men’s basketball regular season title and NCAA Division II Tournament berths for both of its basketball teams during a road trip to Oklahoma this week.
The Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will face East Central University in Ada on Thursday, Feb. 23, followed by a doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage of all four games.
After their regular season-ending trip to Ada and Durant, the Arkansas Tech basketball teams will prepare for the GAC Tournament March 2-5 in Bartlesville, Okla.
#22 ATU Golden Suns (20-4, 16-4 GAC) vs. ECU Tigers (12-12, 11-9 GAC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Kerr Activities Center, Ada, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: Tech leads 10-5
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech secured its third consecutive 20-win season with an 82-73 victory at Henderson State University on Saturday. Anissa Pounds scored a career-high 34 points in the win. She has made 258 career 3-pointers, third-most in Tech women’s basketball history. Only Mindy Lasater (279 from 1998-2002) and Dawn Grell (270 from 1990-94) have made more 3-point field goals for the Golden Suns. Tech defeated East Central 68-43 on Jan. 7. The Suns can clinch the No. 2 seed in the GAC Tournament with a win on Thursday.
About the Tigers: East Central has won six consecutive games to move into fifth place in the GAC standings and clinch a berth in the GAC Tournament. The Tigers rank second in the conference in 3-point field goals made (8.4 per game). Devon Branch has averaged 18.3 points per game and connected on 26-of-51 3-point tries during ECU’s winning streak. The Tigers were 13-of-53 from the field in their loss at Arkansas Tech earlier this season.
ATU Wonder Boys (20-4, 16-4 GAC) vs. ECU Tigers (19-7, 15-5 GAC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kerr Activities Center, Ada, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ECU leads 14-10
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech’s 11-game winning streak has put the Wonder Boys in a tie with the University of Arkansas-Monticello for first place in the GAC standings. Tech has made 293 3-pointers this season. The school record of 296 made 3-pointers in a season was set by the 1994-95 Wonder Boys. Justin Graham has won two of the last three GAC player of the week awards. The senior guard averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while leading Tech’s men to three wins last week.
About the Tigers: East Central is in sole possession of third place in the GAC standings, one game behind co-leaders ATU and UAM. The Tigers fell out of a share for the top spot in the conference with a 68-49 home loss to Southern Nazarene University on Saturday. ECU was 0-of-16 from 3-point range in the defeat. Braxton Reeves leads the GAC in scoring this season (22.2 points per game) and has scored more points (1,557) than any other men’s basketball player in the six-year history of the GAC.
