Arkansas Tech University’s school-record tying 20th 3-pointer of the game gave the Wonder Boys just enough to persist to victory at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday.
Mason Cline made that trey with 1:15 left and Arkansas Tech survived a missed 3-pointer by Southeastern Oklahoma State University at the buzzer to earn an 84-82 Great American Conference victory.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Wonder Boys (8-12 overall, 6-8 GAC), who took another step toward their 12th consecutive postseason berth.
“I can see the look in their eyes in the huddle, and I’m not having to say much to them,” said Chad Kline, ATU head coach, when asked about Cline and his fellow seniors. “They are locked in and focused.”
Arkansas Tech broke a 45-45 tie at the intermission by going on a 12-0 run early in the second half. When Jacob Patterson capped the surge with a layup, the Wonder Boys led 57-48 at the 16:03 mark.
ATU made five of its first seven 3-point attempts to begin the second half and led by as many as 10 points, but Jett Jobe would not let the Savage Storm go quietly.
The transfer guard from Mississippi State University scored 19 of his career-high 34 points in the second half. His 3-pointer with 2:42 to go cut the Wonder Boys’ margin to 81-77.
The score remained unchanged until Cline’s 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:15 remaining increased Tech’s cushion to 84-77. The Wonder Boys would need almost all of that cushion.
A layup by Kevin Buckingham with 1:09 left and 3-point play by Al Ervin with 30.4 seconds showing pulled Southeastern Oklahoma State within 84-82.
Arkansas Tech kept it interesting by missing the front end of two 1-and-1 free throw opportunities during the final minute. That gave Buckingham a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point try from the left wing came up short and Tech earned a split in the regular season series between the two teams.
“I thought we defended it as good as we could,” said Kline when asked about the Savage Storm’s final shot. “They ran a play we hadn’t seen on film all year. They got a look at it, but it was contested. This was a hard-fought win.”
Alex Brown had 20 points for the Wonder Boys, his 16th career game with 20 or more points.
Cline and Will Adler made six 3-pointers apiece and finished with 18 points each for ATU. Ramses Sandifer added 10 points, while Freddy Lee contributed nine points and 11 assists.
The Wonder Boys will welcome Ouachita Baptist University to Tucker Coliseum for a 7:30 p.m. GAC contest on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Tickets ($5 adults/$3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Free admission will be granted to those with a valid ATU identification card.
Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
