Live Blog: Wonder Boys vs. North Alabama

2011 GSC TOURNAMENT
Men’s First Round
#13 Arkansas Tech vs. North Alabama
12:30 p.m.
Friday, March 4
DeSoto Civic Center – Southaven, Miss.

12:10 p.m. — Good afternoon from the DeSoto Civic Center. We will post updates from throughout the game as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys take on the North Alabama Lions in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

12:12 p.m. — Remember that you can listen to today’s game live on KWKK 100.9 FM in the Arkansas River Valley. Click here to access an Internet stream of the broadcast.

12:14 p.m. — Click here to access a preview of the Arkansas Tech-UNA game.

12:30 p.m. — Arkansas Tech starters: Laithe Massey, Johnie Davis, Jeremy Dunbar, James Causey and James Giles.

12:32 p.m. — UNA starters: Beaumont Beasley, Trent McCants, Wes Long, Ricky Davison and Marcus Landry.

12:37 p.m. — Wes Long’s 3-pointer from the left corner gives North Alabama an 11-8 lead with 15:32 to go in the first half. Laithe Massey and James Giles have four points apiece for Arkansas Tech.

12:45 p.m. — A Johnie Davis 3-pointer with 12:54 left in the first half put Tech in front 17-15. Back-to-back layups from Matt Haney and Laithe Massey have made it 21-15 with 11:50 to go before halftime. Tech is 9-of-13 from the field.

12:52 p.m. — Arkansas Tech used a 15-2 run to take a 29-17 lead with 8:26 left in the hallf. It is now a 31-20 Wonder Boys’ advantage with 7:52 to go before halftime. Laithe Massey has 10 points for Tech. The Wonder Boys are 14-of-20 from the field (70 percent).

1:05 p.m. — Arkansas Tech continues to be red hot from the field. The Wonder Boys have made 16-of-25 (64 percent) to build a 43-28 lead at the 3:51 mark of the first half. Tech has four turnovers, compared to 11 for North Alabama.

1:23 p.m. — Arkansas Tech leads 49-31 at halftime. Laithe Massey has 12 points and Matt Haney has nine points for the Wonder Boys. Tech holds an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers, and the Wonder Boys are 18-of-33 (55 percent) from the field. Marcus Landry leads North Alabama with 10 points and six rebounds.

1:51 p.m. — Arkansas Tech used a 9-0 run to move in front 60-38 with 13:25 to go.

1:59 p.m. — Arkansas Tech continues to maintain a comfortable lead. It is 71-53 with 7:36 to go. Laithe Massey has a season-high 20 points and Matt Haney has 12 points for the Wonder Boys. North Alabama’s full-court press has given Tech some trouble in the second half. The Wonder Boys now have 17 turnovers, compared to 20 for UNA.

2:09 p.m. — North Alabama got as close as 71-57 thanks to a scoreless drought of nearly four minutes for Arkansas Tech, but back-to-back baskets by Laithe Massey and Johnie Davis have restored order for the Wonder Boys. Tech leads 75-57 with 3:23 left.

2:17 p.m. — Wonder Boys win 84-61, advance to semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. More details to follow.

3:17 p.m. — Click here to read a full recap of the Wonder Boys’ victory.

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