A long shot by a long-time Wonder Boy helped Arkansas Tech University end a long losing streak against Missouri Southern State University on Saturday afternoon.
Fifth-year senior Nick Wayman drained a 3-pointer from the left corner with 25.3 seconds remaining to propel the Wonder Boys to a 75-72 non-conference win over the Missouri Southern Lions at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.
It was Arkansas Tech’s first on-campus men’s basketball win over the Lions in 20 years and three days. MSSU had won the last seven on-campus meetings between the two programs. Tech’s only win over the Lions during that span came in a neutral-site game in 2004.
“It was a big play,” said Tech head coach Chad Kline when asked about Wayman’s 3-pointer, which was set up by an Andrew Guillory assist. “That’s what you expect from a guy who’s been here for five years. He was wide open, but you still have to make the shot. I’m super proud of our guys. Seven days was a long lay-off, but we’re coming together and realizing how hard you have to play to win.”
The first half featured nine lead changes, the last of which came when Missouri Southern went on a 10-0 run over a span of three minutes to earn a 27-19 edge with 3:51 remaining until intermission.
The Wonder Boys responded with a 7-0 spurt to pull within a single point of the lead, but Charlie Brown’s 3-pointer on the final shot of the half sent the Lions to halftime with a 30-26 advantage.
Arkansas Tech took the lead for good at 68-67 on a pair of Tyler Corley free throws with 2:59 left in the game. The score remained the same until Wayman’s critical trey in the closing moments.
The Wonder Boys (3-2) maintained the lead the rest of the way by making 4-of-6 free throws over the final 16.8 seconds. Missouri Southern’s Taevaunn Prince got off a desperation heave from 80 feet in an attempt to tie the score at the final buzzer, but it was wide right.
Corley had 14 points and Wayman finished with 13 points for Tech. Guillory notched 12 points.
MSSU’s Prince led all players with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Austin Wright added 14 points and Brown scored 13 points for the Lions (3-3).
The Wonder Boys will return to Great American Conference action on Thursday, Dec. 3, when they host Oklahoma Baptist University for a 7:30 p.m. contest at Tucker Coliseum.
