A spark off the bench sent Arkansas Tech University to an 85-64 non-conference men’s basketball win over the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday afternoon.
Tyler Corley checked in for the Wonder Boys at the 12:24 mark of the first half with his side trailing 12-11. The junior guard from Indianapolis, Ind., scored seven points in a span of less than four minutes, including five straight points to put Arkansas Tech in front 19-14 with 8:51 remaining until halftime.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Marquis Yates and Nick Wayman pushed the Wonder Boys’ edge into double figures. Corley notched a 3-point play with 6:09 to go in the half, capping a 17-3 run over a span of 3:53 that gave Arkansas Tech a 30-17 edge.
The Wonder Boys (8-2) led 45-27 at halftime and by as many as 30 points in the second half as they earned their seventh consecutive victory. It is the longest men’s basketball winning streak for Arkansas Tech since it won nine consecutive games in early 2012.
“(Corley) has started to play a lot better these last couple of games,” said Tech head coach Chad Kline. “He got us going today. He definitely has a scorer’s mentality.”
Yates finished with 19 points and Corley had 18 points. They were a combined 14-of-22 from the field.
DeChriston McKinney added 11 points and seven rebounds for Arkansas Tech, while Andrew Guillory notched 10 points and eight rebounds.
USAO’s Dedrian Parmer led all players with 24 points and 21 rebounds. The Drovers collected 20 offensive rebounds and forced Tech into 20 turnovers.
“It’s amazing we were able to turn the ball over 20 times and give up 20 offensive rebounds and still win the game,” said Kline. “I told the guys at halftime it’s tough to get upset when we’re leading by 18 points, but you always want to be improving. We’ll probably lose every time in GAC play if we do things like that.”
The Wonder Boys will visit Southeastern Oklahoma State University for a 7:30 p.m. Great American Conference contest in Durant, Okla., on Thursday, Jan. 7. A women’s GAC game between the two institutions will commence at 5:30 p.m.
Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage of the doubleheader.
