Andrew Guillory scored a season-high 19 points to lead Arkansas Tech University to a 76-61 non-conference men’s basketball win over the Nova Southeastern University Sharks at the Florida Tech Winter Classic in Melbourne, Fla., on Friday afternoon.
The Wonder Boys (6-2) limited the Sharks (4-5) to 36 percent shooting from the field and out-rebounded Nova Southeastern 48-27.
Arkansas Tech extended its winning streak to five consecutive games.
“(Nova Southeastern) did a good job in the first half of spreading us out,” said Wonder Boys head coach Chad Kline. “We’ve played 2-3 zone every possession this year, and they forced us to switch to a 3-2. We haven’t practiced that in a month, but we went over it during a timeout and our guys executed it. I was impressed with us on the glass. If you can hold teams to one shot per possession, you’ve got a pretty good chance to win. Our guys came ready to play.”
Included in Guillory’s big day was a layup at the 17:22 mark of the second half that put Tech in front 42-40. It was the beginning of a 16-3 Wonder Boys’ run that staked them to a 56-43 edge after Bryson Fletcher capped the surge by making a layup with 12:47 remaining.
Arkansas Tech built a margin as large as 22 points and maintained at least an 11-point lead the rest of the way.
Marquis Yates finished with 18 points for the Wonder Boys, while Fletcher and Thomas Alexander notched nine points apiece.
Tech’s Tyler Corley contributed eight points. Nick Wayman had six points and matched his season high with 10 rebounds.
Chris Page and Harrison Goodrick scored 12 points apiece for Nova Southeastern.
The Wonder Boys will face classic host Florida Tech at 1:30 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, Dec. 19, in further action at the Clemente Center in Melbourne, Fla.
Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
