The relief on Mark Downey’s face was easy to see after the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys stopped a five-game losing skid with a 64-59 win at Southern Arkansas on Saturday.
“Our team can play with anyone in this league and beat anyone in this league,” said Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach, after the win at SAU. “We just have to be healthy and together like we were today. Guys laid it on the line tonight. I’m proud of a lot of different guys. You get to that point where you wonder if we’re ever going to win another one. Coaches say it all the time…it’s never as bad as you think, and it’s never as good as you think.”
The Wonder Boys (4-6 overall, 1-3 Great American Conference) were led to victory by Seybian Sims, who scored a career-high 21 points, and Trey Allen, who posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“For Seybian and Trey to come back…I’ve been challenging them, and they could’ve quit,” said Downey. “They both stepped up tonight. This was a huge road win for us. Together and finish are two good words for this one.”
Arkansas Tech will host the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms and Boll Weevils for a GAC doubleheader at Tucker Coliseum on Thursday, Dec. 19. Admission will be free for any individual who brings a stuffed animal for donation to Toys for Tots. Fans will toss the plush toys onto the coliseum floor at halftime of both games.
Game times are 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Live coverage of both games will be provided by KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (3-5, 1-3) will look to improve defensively in their final outing before the holiday break. ATU’s women are allowing 72 points per game, most in the GAC.
“The ultimate thing is we have to defend,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach, following an 81-70 loss at Southern Arkansas on Saturday. “We’re giving up way too many points. We play good for a while, and then we go about three minutes where we don’t guard very well or we turn the basketball over. We just have to tighten our game up and play a good 40 minutes of basketball.”
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
