Basketball Teams Return to Action Thursday

Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (6-2, 2-0) at NWOSU Lady Rangers (0-9, 0-3) When: Thursday, Jan. 2, 5:30 p.m. Where: Percefull Fieldhouse, Alva, Okla. Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com Series: Tech Leads 6-0 About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech is 33-6 in Great American Conference women’s basketball games since the beginning of the inaugural GAC season in 2011-12. The Golden Suns lead the GAC and rank eighth nationally in turnover margin this season (+7.88 turnovers per game). Freshman guard Anissa Pounds leads Arkansas Tech and ranks 10th in the conference in scoring (14.6 points per game). Sophomore guard Cara Neighbors (12.9 points per game) and junior forward Jacinda Myers-Sanders (11.9 points per game) are also among the Golden Suns’ leading scorers this season. Arkansas Tech defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 73-62 in Russellville and 67-50 at Alva last season. About the Lady Rangers: Northwestern Oklahoma State has lost 13 consecutive women’s basketball games dating back to the 2012-13 season. The Lady Rangers have been idle since Dec. 7, when they suffered a 78-64 loss to Southern Nazarene University. NWOSU head coach Eric Bozeman is a 1982 graduate of Arkansas Tech and a former All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference performer for the Wonder Boys basketball program. His 17.2 points per game career scoring average ranks No. 10 in Arkansas Tech men’s basketball history. Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (6-4, 1-1) at NWOSU Rangers (4-5, 1-2) When: Thursday, Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m. Where: Percefull Fieldhouse, Alva, Okla. Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com Series: Tech Leads 2-1 About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech went into the holiday break on a winning note by defeating nationally 22nd-ranked Angelo State 74-64 on Dec. 19. It was the Wonder Boys’ third victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season. Arkansas Tech leads the Great American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.392). Junior forward Darrick Little (3rd, .517) and junior guard Tyler Friedel (4th, .488) both rank in the top four in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage. The Wonder Boys swept Northwestern Oklahoma State last season, defeating the Rangers 78-58 in Russellville and 60-51 at Alva. About the Rangers: Northwestern Oklahoma State has won two of its last three games, including a 57-51 victory over Cameron University on Dec. 18 in its final game before the holiday break. The Rangers rank last in the GAC in scoring offense (63.2 points per game), field goal percentage (.398) and 3-point field goal percentage (.241). NWOSU head coach Andrew Brown was named GAC men’s basketball coach of the year in 2012-13.]]>