Mykel Cleveland recorded a double-double and nationally 24th-ranked Arkansas Tech shot 60 percent from the field in a 117-58 Wonder Boys’ victory over the Central Baptist College Mustangs at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Tuesday night.
Cleveland (photographed), a senior transfer from Southern Illinois University, notched 15 points, 12 assists, six steals and five rebounds in his Arkansas Tech debut.
Jeremy Hoard and Matt Haney combined to make four 3-pointers in the first two minutes to give the Wonder Boys a 12-0 lead.
The margin never dipped below 10 points the rest of the way as Arkansas Tech (1-0) won its men’s basketball season opener for a fifth consecutive year.
Hoard, Haney and Johnie Davis matched Cleveland with 15 points apiece. Blake Mitchem had 13 points and Will Paul scored 10 points to give the Wonder Boys six players in double figures in scoring.
Tommy Williams and Gavin McDaniel led Central Baptist with 14 points each. Xavier Lindsey added 13 points for the Mustangs (2-5).
Arkansas Tech made 15-of-28 (54 percent) from 3-point range. The Wonder Boys finished with a 44-35 rebounding edge. Tech forced CBC into 28 turnovers while committing just 11 of its own.
The 117 points scored by the Wonder Boys were their most during Doug Karleskint’s two-year tenure as Arkansas Tech head coach.
The Wonder Boys will travel to Oklahoma City for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest against MidAmerica Christian on Saturday, Nov. 19. The game can be heard on KWKK 100.9 FM.
Click here to access an Internet stream of the broadcast.
Click here to learn more about Arkansas Tech basketball.
]]>
