Jeremy Dunbar scored a career-high 28 points and Johnie Davis added 25 points to lead the nationally 23rd-ranked Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys to an 83-73 victory over the Ouachita Baptist Tigers at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
The Wonder Boys (15-3 overall, 6-0 Gulf South Conference) jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and then held on down the stretch to maintain sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division.
Tech held a plus-15 turnover margin on Saturday. The Wonder Boys forced OBU into 21 turnovers while giving the basketball away just six times.
Ouachita Baptist (7-12, 2-5) cut Tech’s lead to 65-58 at the 9:32 mark of the second half, but Davis answered with a 3-pointer to rebuild the margin to 10 points.
It was the start of a 9-1 run that gave the Wonder Boys a 74-59 edge with 6:03 remaining. Ouachita chopped Tech’s lead back down to eight points, but Davis responded with a layup to make it 78-68 with 2:25 left.
The Wonder Boys made 5-of-9 from the free throw line over the final 1:09 to finally put the pesky Tigers away.
Laithe Massey added 11 points, five rebounds and five assists for Arkansas Tech, which won its ninth consecutive game. Jared Williamson (photographed) grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and scored five points.
Austin Mitchell led OBU with 20 points.
The Wonder Boys will host Henderson State for a 7:30 p.m. GSC contest at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday, Feb. 3.
Tickets will be available at the door. Those with a valid Tech identification card will be admitted free.
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