The final pre-holiday doubleheader of the 2025-26 Arkansas Tech University basketball season provides the Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys with an opportunity to build momentum going into the new calendar year.
Arkansas Tech will visit the University of Arkansas-Monticello for Great American Conference contests at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello on Thursday, Dec. 18.
The Golden Suns (6-2 overall, 2-2 GAC) and the UAM Cotton Blossoms (5-5, 0-4) will begin their 111th all-time meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Wonder Boys (4-6, 2-2) and the UAM Boll Weevils (4-6, 0-4) will tip-off their 177th all-time meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Live coverage of the ATU-UAM doubleheader will be provided by KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
Arkansas Tech’s women rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to Southern Arkansas University on Monday night and took the lead with less than four minutes remaining, but Kennedy Moss’ layup with 0.9 seconds remaining gave the Muleriders an 86-84 victory.
“I thought we made some good plays and never gave up,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “We had trouble guarding (SAU’s) bench players. They stepped up and hit big shots. I appreciate our comeback, but we got too far behind. We played with a lot of heart. When (SAU) needed to make some shots, they had some players make shots…plain and simple.”
Arkansas Tech’s men suffered a similar heartbreak on Monday. The Wonder Boys battled back from a 9-point second-half deficit to force overtime, only to be outlasted by Southern Arkansas 84-80 in double overtime.
“(SAU’s) role players stepped up and made plays,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach. “We didn’t make plays down the stretch. What a game. This team just has to mature. We’ve got to grow up. I was proud of our guys. We fought. We made some plays, too…we just didn’t make enough. I feel like we probably lost that game in the first half. We’ve got to keep the ball moving and we have to make plays. One of these days, this team is going to break through. Once we get healthy and mature, this team is going to be pretty hard to beat late in the year.”
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.
