Sometimes one moment can turn an entire basketball game around.
Such was the case on Saturday when the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys recovered from a lethargic first half to defeat the Henderson State Reddies 84-74 in the Gulf South Conference opener for both sides at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia.
Arkansas Tech (10-3 overall, 1-0 GSC) trailed 37-34 at halftime and 47-45 with 15:23 left in the second half.
Then came a Jeremy Dunbar 3-pointer with 15:09 to go. Ridas Pulkauninkas stole the ensuing inbounds pass and streaked to the basket for a layup that made it 50-47 Arkansas Tech at the 15:04 mark.
The Wonder Boys seized the momentum in those five seconds and never surrendered the lead again.
A 10-2 Arkansas Tech spurt stretched the advantage to 63-51 with 11:48 left. Jared Williamson scored the final five points of the run and finished with a team-high 19 points for the Wonder Boys. He was 10-of-14 from the free throw line.
Henderson State (5-8, 0-1) got back to within 72-67 with 4:24 left, but James Giles scored on a put-back for Arkansas Tech and Laithe Massey followed with a 3-pointer. The Wonder Boys held a 77-67 advantage with 3:30 remaining and the lead never dipped below seven points the rest of the way.
Massey (photographed) had 16 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals. Dunbar made 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also scored 16 points.
Johnie Davis (12 points) and Willie Sanders (10 points) also reached double figures in scoring for Arkansas Tech.
Josh French had a game-high 22 points for the Reddies.
The Wonder Boys will visit Christian Brothers for a 7 p.m. contest at Canale Arena in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, Jan. 13.
KWKK 100.9 FM and www.athletics.atu.edu will have the broadcast.
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