Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Tyler Lonzie matched his season high with 18 points to lead the Savage Storm to a 78-64 Great American Conference men’s basketball victory over Arkansas Tech University at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday night.
Despite the loss, the Wonder Boys maintained sole possession of seventh place in the GAC standings and they will enter the final day of the regular season with another opportunity to clinch a berth in the GAC Tournament.
Arkansas Tech (15-12 overall, 10-11 GAC) led by as many as eight points in the first seven minutes of the game, but a cold spell cost the Wonder Boys their early advantage.
After making five of its first eight field goal tries to start the game, Tech went 8-of-26 from the floor the remainder of the half. As a result of that and 14 first-half points by Lonzie, the Savage Storm went to the intermission leading 40-33.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Nick Wayman and Freddy Lee pulled the Wonder Boys within 49-47 with 12:03 remaining, but that was as close as they could get.
Tech went 1-of-10 from 3-point range the rest of the way and the Savage Storm (11-16, 9-12) made 16-of-18 free throw tries over the final 5:25 to put it away.
Tyler Corley scored a game-high 20 points for the Wonder Boys. Andrew Guillory added 16 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, while Jerry Owens notched 11 points and Lee finished with 10 points. DeChriston McKinney matched his season high with 12 rebounds.
The Wonder Boys will host East Central University for the 2015-16 regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 27. Tip-off at Tucker Coliseum is set for 3 p.m. Tickets ($5 adults / $3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Those with a valid Arkansas Tech identification card will be admitted free of charge.
Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
