Arkansas Tech University’s basketball teams will return to the familiar setting of Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla., for the 2017 Great American Conference Tournament March 2-5.
The Golden Suns, No. 2 seed in the women’s bracket, will face No. 7 seed Ouachita Baptist University in the opening round at noon on Thursday, March 2.
The Wonder Boys, No. 3 seed in the men’s bracket, will take on No. 6 seed Southern Arkansas University in a first-round game at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 3.
The tournament semifinals will be played on Saturday, March 4, and the championship games are set for Sunday, March 5.
All ATU games at the GAC Tournament will be broadcast live over KCJC 102.3 FM. Additional live coverage will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
This marks the sixth consecutive basketball season that Bartlesville has hosted the GAC Tournament. Arkansas Tech is defending champion on the women’s side, and it won the men’s championship in 2015.
ATU Golden Suns (20-6) vs. OBU Lady Tigers (12-16)
When: Thursday, March 2, Noon
Where: Bruin Fieldhouse, Bartlesville, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 56-14
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech was 2-0 against Ouachita Baptist during the regular season. The Golden Suns defeated the Lady Tigers 89-66 in Russellville on Jan. 12 and 78-63 in Arkadelphia on Feb. 11. Tech has won the last seven women’s basketball meetings between the two programs. Senior guards Anissa Pounds (13.8 points per game) and Kelsey McClure (12.2 points per game) along with junior forward Cheyenne North (11.2 points per game) and senior forward Danielle Frachiseur (10.3 points per game) are the Suns’ leading scorers. Pounds is third in program history in career 3-point field goals made (266). Only Mindy Lasater (279 from 1998-2002) and Dawn Grell (270 from 1990-94) have made more.
About the Lady Tigers: Like Arkansas Tech, Ouachita Baptist enters the GAC Tournament on a two-game losing streak. The Lady Tigers are making their first postseason appearance since 2014, and they are seeking their first postseason victory since defeating the University of Arkansas-Monticello 74-72 in the inaugural GAC Tournament on March 2, 2012. Freshmen Madison Brittain (11.1 points per game) and Chasidee Owens (10.4 points per game) are Ouachita’s top scorers.
ATU Wonder Boys (20-6) vs. SAU Muleriders (13-15)
When: Friday, March 3, 8 p.m.
Where: Bruin Fieldhouse, Bartlesville, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 94-69
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech defeated Southern Arkansas in both of their regular season meetings. The Wonder Boys topped the Muleriders 90-88 in Magnolia on Jan. 14 and 92-68 in Russellville on Feb. 9. Tech has already established a new school record for 3-pointers made in a season (317). With seven more makes from beyond the arc, the Wonder Boys would break the GAC record set by Harding University with 323 3-pointers during the 2015-16 season. Senior guard Justin Graham (14.2 points per game), sophomore guard Alex Brown (13.5 points per game), junior guard Montrell Williams (13 points per game) and senior forward Bennie Lufile (11.8 points per game) are Tech’s leading scorers.
About the Muleriders: Southern Arkansas clinched the No. 6 seed in the GAC Tournament by defeating Oklahoma Baptist University 96-88 in the regular season finale on Saturday. Sophomore CJ Elkins, the Muleriders’ top scorer this season at 17.3 points per game, notched a career-high 33 points to lead the Muleriders to victory. SAU went 4-2 in its final six games of the regular season. The Muleriders have won their first-round game at the GAC Tournament two of the last three years, including an 83-82 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State University last year.
