Tyler Corley scored 22 points to lead Arkansas Tech University to a 70-69 Great American Conference men’s basketball win over Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva, Okla., on Saturday afternoon.
Corley made 14-of-20 free throw tries, including 5-of-7 in the final two minutes as the Wonder Boys (2-2 overall, 1-1 GAC) earned their first road victory of the season.
“It wasn’t pretty,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Chad Kline. “We’re not playing anywhere as close to as good as we will be in a few weeks, but right now it’s about surviving and winning. This was a tough place to play today.”
Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-4, 0-2) led 30-28 at halftime, but Arkansas Tech took the lead for good with a 13-3 run early in the second half.
That surge gave the Wonder Boys a 46-36 edge with 10:51 remaining. The Rangers pulled back within 65-63 on an Adrian Motley layup with 24.6 seconds left.
Corley made 1-of-2 free throws with 20.9 seconds left to make it 66-63, and Tech’s Nick Wayman was able to get the offensive rebound after Corley missed the second shot. Wayman saved the ball on the baseline to Corley. He was fouled, which led to a NWOSU technical foul.
A junior guard from Indianapolis, Ind., Corley made 3-of-4 free throws to increase Tech’s edge to 69-63 with 16.3 seconds to go.
Andrew Guillory made what turned out to be an important free throw for the Wonder Boys with 13.1 seconds showing. The Rangers got 3-pointers from Zachary Dumas and Ashton Bailey in the final seconds, but time ran out when Tech successfully inbounded the ball with 0.2 seconds left.
Marquis Yates and Guillory had 11 points apiece for the Wonder Boys, who were 27-of-42 (64 percent) from the free throw line.
T’aries Taylor paced NWOSU with 25 points. He was 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
The Wonder Boys will be idle until Saturday, Nov. 28, when they will entertain Missouri Southern State University for a 3 p.m. non-conference game at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
