The 2018-19 Great American Conference basketball schedule will reach its midpoint this week, and both Arkansas Tech University teams will hit the road with hopes of improving their chances for a postseason berth.
The Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will visit Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, in Weatherford. They will travel on to Alva to tangle with Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26.
Tech’s next games at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31, against East Central University. Seven of ATU’s final 10 GAC doubleheaders this season will be played at home.
ATU Golden Suns (6-10, 3-7 GAC) vs. #16 SWOSU Lady Bulldogs (15-1, 10-0 GAC)
When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Cellular Event Center, Weatherford, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 15-11
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech is part of a four-way tie for eighth place in the GAC with 12 regular season league games remaining. Only the top eight teams in the final GAC standings will advance to the GAC Tournament March 7-10 in Bartlesville, Okla. The Golden Suns have advanced to the postseason in each of the last 12 seasons. Junior Hannah Villines (12.1 points per game) and sophomore Jacie Higgins (11.2 points per game) are Tech’s leading scorers this season.
About the Lady Bulldogs: Defending GAC regular season champion Southwestern Oklahoma State has won 15 consecutive games. The Lady Bulldogs are in sole possession of first place in the league standings. They have won 26 straight home games dating back to Feb. 13, 2017. Senior Hailey Tucker (19.1 points per game) was named GAC player of the year in 2016-17 and 2017-18. She is the GAC all-time leader in scoring with 1,976 career points.
ATU Wonder Boys (4-12, 2-8 GAC) vs. SWOSU Bulldogs (3-13, 0-10 GAC)
When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Cellular Event Center, Weatherford, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 20-10
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech is tied for 10th place in the GAC and will be at the midpoint of its league schedule following Thursday’s game at SWOSU. The Wonder Boys are two games behind Ouachita Baptist University for eighth place in the GAC standings. Tech must climb into the top eight in order to qualify for the postseason, something the Wonder Boys have done each year since 2008. Sophomore R.J. Glasper (18.8 points per game) and seniors Will Adler (15.5 points per game) and Alex Brown (13.4 points per game) are Tech’s leading scorers in 2018-19.
About the Bulldogs: Southwestern Oklahoma State is on a six-game losing streak and appears destined for its third consecutive losing season. The Bulldogs are in last place in the GAC. Junior Tre Evans (21.7 points per game) leads the conference in scoring. His father, first-year SWOSU head coach Terry Evans, previously won 263 games and made seven NCAA Division II Tournament appearances as head coach at the University of Central Oklahoma from 2002-15.
