Arkansas Tech University will play two non-conference men’s basketball games in the Fairfield Inn Classic hosted by the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17.
The Wonder Boys will face the University of Illinois-Springfield for a 3 p.m. contest on Friday before taking on William Jewell College in a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.
The road trip will mark Tech’s final tune-up before the beginning of Great American Conference play on Thursday, Nov. 29, when the Wonder Boys will face Ouachita Baptist University at 7:30 p.m. in Arkadelphia. Tech’s first home men’s basketball game of the season is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, against Henderson State University.
ATU Wonder Boys (1-1) vs. Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (1-1)
When: Friday, Nov. 16, 3 p.m.
Where: UCM Multipurpose Building
Radio/Internet: KCAB 97.1 FM and 980 AM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: First meeting
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech went 1-1 during a season-opening road trip to St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday and Sunday. The Wonder Boys defeated the University of Minnesota-Crookston 74-71 before dropping a 118-113 triple overtime decision to Concordia University-St. Paul. Senior guard Alex Brown (1st, 25.5 points per game) and sophomore guard R.J. Glasper (4th, 21.5 points per game) give ATU two of the top four scorers in the GAC this season. The Wonder Boys lead the conference in scoring (93.5 points per game) and rank second in the league in 3-point field goals made (11 per game).
About the Prairie Stars: Illinois-Springfield is an NCAA Division II member that competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Prairie Stars were 14-14 overall last season and are seeking their first winning season since 2011-12. Illinois-Springfield defeated Malone University 81-70 and suffered a 73-62 loss to Hillsdale College in a season-opening classic that it hosted last weekend. Junior guard Peyton Allen, a transfer from Texas A&M University, leads the Prairie Stars in scoring at 21 points per game.
