SOSU Holds Off Wonder Boys 90-86

A 10-0 run late in the second half and a clutch 3-pointer by DJ Henderson gave Southeastern Oklahoma State University a 90-86 Great American Conference men’s basketball win over Arkansas Tech University at Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant, Okla., on Thursday night.

The Wonder Boys (2-9 overall, 0-5 GAC) took a 77-75 lead on Ramses Sandifer’s tip-in with 7:22 left in regulation, but that proved to be Tech’s final made field goal for a span of almost six minutes.

The Savage Storm (8-2, 4-2) took advantage by rattling off 10 unanswered points, five of which were scored by Kellen Manek. His 3-pointer at the 2:34 mark gave Southeastern an 85-77 lead.

Arkansas Tech mounted one last rally and pulled within 87-86 on a Will Adler 3-pointer with 37.6 seconds remaining. Following a Savage Storm timeout, Jett Jobe drove to the basket and dished out to Henderson in the left corner for the game-sealing trey with seven seconds remaining.

“We have young men with good character,” said Chad Kline, ATU head coach. “They came back with a good mindset after the holiday break. (Bloomer Sullivan Arena) is not the best place to try to get right. Southeastern is very good, but I thought we did a good job of playing a little faster. That’s what we want to do.”

Henderson finished with a season-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Manek notched 23 points and Kevin Buckingham poured in 17 points for Southeastern, 15 of which came in the first half.

R.J. Glasper scored a game-high 25 points for Arkansas Tech. It was his 20th career game with 20 or more points.

Adler made six 3-pointers and tallied 23 points, while Tech’s Josiah Thomas scored a season-high 11 points.

The Wonder Boys will visit East Central University for a 3 p.m. GAC contest at the Kerr Activities Center in Ada, Okla., on Saturday, Jan. 5. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.