Live Blog: Wonder Boys vs. UA-Huntsville

2010 GSC TOURNAMENT
Men’s Championship
#2 Arkansas Tech vs. Alabama-Huntsville
2:45 p.m.
Sunday, March 7
DeSoto Civic Center – Southaven, Miss.

10:30 a.m. — Good morning from Southaven, where it is championship Sunday at the GSC Tournament. The men’s title tilt between Arkansas Tech (28-1) and Alabama-Huntsville (23-8) is set to begin at 2:45 p.m. The women’s game will pit Arkansas Tech against Delta State beginning at noon.

10:35 a.m. — Here is the media coverage run down for the day. Both games today can be heard live in the Russellville area on radio station KWKK 100.9 FM. That broadcast will be streamed over the Internet and it can be accessed by clicking here. The games will be televised regionally by Comcast Sports Southeast and Cox Sports Television. The television broadcast is scheduled to be shown in the Russellville area on Suddenlink cable channels 2 and 119.

10:40 a.m. — Arkansas Tech is trying to become just the fourth program to successfully defend its GSC Men’s Basketball Tournament championship. The Wonder Boys beat Valdosta State 79-66 to win the title in 2009. If Tech wins today, it will join Delta State (1997-98), Henderson State (1999-2001) and Montevallo (2004-05) as the only repeat champions in the event.

10:45 a.m. — The Wonder Boys beat West Georgia and nationally seventh-ranked Valdosta State to make it to today’s game. Alabama-Huntsville defeated Harding and North Alabama in the first two rounds of the tournament.

10:50 a.m. — Tech defeated the UAH Chargers 60-47 in Huntsville, Ala., on Dec. 21. The Wonder Boys outscored the Chargers 24-6 over the final 10:52 for the come-from-behind win. A late switch to a zone defense played a key role in Tech’s victory.

10:55 a.m. — These two programs met in the opening round of the 2008 GSC Tournament. Tech won that game 65-49 for its first-ever victory in the GSC Men’s Basketball Tournament.

11:00 a.m. — The Wonder Boys can tie the school record for men’s basketball victories in a season today. The record of 29 wins was set by the 1954-55 Wonder Boys, and that total was matched by the 1994-95 Wonder Boys. Both of those teams reached the semifinal round of the NAIA National Tournament.

11:05 a.m. — Be sure to click over to our live blog of the women’s game between Tech and Delta State, and then re-join us here on the men’s blog beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m.

3:12 p.m. — A little later than expected because of the 2 OT women’s game, but we are with you for the men’s contest.

3:21 p.m. — Tech leads 11-1 with 16:22 left in the first half. Wonder Boys 3-of-3 from beyond the 3-point arc.

3:23 p.m. — Another 3-pointer by Jeremy Dunbar (his second of the first 4:08) puts Tech in front 14-3. Wonder Boys now 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Media timeout at 15:27 left in the first half.

3:32 p.m. — Arkansas Tech 20, Alabama-Huntsville 15 with 11:21 left in the first half. UAH on a 10-0 run. Jaime Smith had five of those 10 for the Chargers, including a trey right before the media timeout.

3:40 p.m. — Wagner Bueno hits his first 3-pointer of the season to give Tech a 25-15 lead with 9:42 left. Xavier Baldwin answers with a layup for UAH. Tech now leads 25-17 with 7:44 left in the half. Tech is 7-of-11 from 3-point range.

3:48 p.m. — James Causey gets in on the act with his first 3-pointer of the day to make it a 31-22 Arkansas Tech lead with 3:42 to go before half. Tech is 9-of-15 from beyond the arc.

3:57 p.m. — Marcus Pillow scored 12 first half points and Arkansas Tech hit 10 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes to build a 34-23 lead over Alabama-Huntsville at halftime. Six different Wonder Boys have hit at least one 3-pointer. Tech is 10-of-19 (53 percent) from 3-point range. The Wonder Boys are plus-6 in turnover margin.

4:23 p.m. — Tech leads 38-29 with 15:33 left.

4:30 p.m. — A layup by James Giles and a 3-pointer by Brandon Friedel give Tech a 46-36 lead with 11:47 left.

4:40 p.m. — Arkansas Tech 50, UA-Huntsville 43 with 6:47 remaining.

4:46 p.m. — Consecutive 3-pointers from Jeremy Dunbar help the Wonder Boys maintain the lead. Tech is in front 56-49 with 4:28 to play in regulation. Dunbar now leads Tech with 18 points.

4:53 p.m. — UAH scores seven straight points to cut Tech’s lead to 61-56 with 2:13 left.

4:58 p.m. — Zane Campbell hits back-to-back 3s; UAH leads 63-61 with 24.8 seconds left.

5:02 p.m. — Marcus Pillow hits a 3-pointer with 11.8 seconds remaining to give the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys a 64-63 win over Alabama-Huntsville. Arkansas Tech wins its second consecutive GSC Tournament championship in men’s basketball.

5:13 p.m. — Pillow is named the GSC Tournament most valuable player. Dunbar and Friedel also represent Wonder Boys on all-tournament team.

5:40 p.m. — I think that’s all I’ve got. Check back late tonight for traditional recap game stories and information about both the Golden Suns and Wonder Boys going to the NCAA Tournament next weekend.

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