RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – 20th-ranked Arkansas Tech moved into a tie for first place with Henderson State in the Great American Conferencemen’s basketball standings with a win on Thursday night to set up a showdown between the league’s two first place teams on Saturday in Russellville. East Central, Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas-Monticello also highlighted the league’s Thursday night contests by recording victories.
ARKANSAS TECH 68, SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 57
DURANT, Okla. – Arkansas Tech (18-4, 10-2 GAC) moved back into a tie for first place in the GAC standings by recording a 68-57 road-victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State (9-16, 5-8 GAC) on Thursday night inside Bloomer Sullivan Arena. It was ATU’s second win over SOSU this season. After leading by just one point at halftime, the Wonder Boys made just above 55 percent of their shots in the second half, proving to be the difference in the game. ATU made six of its eight three-pointers in the second half and made 8-of-10 foul shots in the final 20 minutes after not making any trips to the foul line in the first half. The Savage Storm was productive in the second half to keep the score close, making 42.9 percent of its total shots, 62.5 percent of its three pointers and 89.5 percent of its foul shots in the final 20 minutes. ATU did not lead by double-digits until the final three minutes of the contest. ATU’s Jeremy Hoard led all scorers with 17 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Zac Downing led Southeastern with 15 points.
EAST CENTRAL 68, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 62
ADA, Okla. – East Central (5-18, 2-11 GAC) picked up its second conference win of the season and snapped a three-game losing skid by defeating Southern Arkansas (12-12, 5-7 GAC) at home on Thursday night by a final score of 68-62. The ECU win evens the season series between the two squads at one win each. SAU outscored ECU 41-27 in the first half, but saw its big lead dwindle in the second half. ECU chipped away at the Muleriders, finally taking the lead with 4:02 remaining in regulation. The Tigers outscored SAU 41-21 in the second half. SAU made just six field goals in the final 20 minutes after going 17-of-29 from the field in the first half. SAU’s Juvon Demerson led all scorers with 21 points and picked up a game-high 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. ECU placed four scorers in double-figures, led by Caprest Rhone with 13 points.
OUACHITA BAPTIST 69, HARDING 60
SEARCY, Ark. – Ouachita Baptist (13-10, 6-7 GAC) handed Harding (13-9, 8-4 GAC) its first home conference loss of the season by defeating the Bisons 69-60 on Thursday night inside Rhodes Field House. It is OBU’s second win over Harding this season. OBU outscored Harding 34-24 in the first half, which proved to be the difference after Harding outscored OBU 36-35 in the second half. OBU led by as much as 16 points in the first 20 minutes, but that lead was cut to single-digits for the majority of the second half. The closest HU came to OBU in the second half was four points on two different occasions in a two-minute period midway through the period. Both teams ended the contest with similarpercentages. OBU shot 44.2 percent from the field (23-of-52), while Hardingshot 40 percent (20-of-50). OBU’s Michael Morris led all scorers with 21 points. Zach Roddenberry led Harding with 13 points and 11 rebounds for hisfifth double-double of the year.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 65, SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 54
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Arkansas-Monticello (16-8, 6-6 GAC) used a strong second half to snap a three-game losing streak in a 65-54 road-win over Southwestern Oklahoma State (13-10, 4-9 GAC) on Thursday night inside the Rankin Williams Fieldhouse. It is UAM’s second win over SWOSU this season. After trailing by one point at halftime, the Boll Weevils shot 52.2 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and held SWOSU to a 25.7 percent to outscore the Bulldogs 45-33 and earn the win. Neither team led by more than three points in the first half that included two tied scores and nine lead changes. UAM led the entire second half and held a double-digit advantage for the majority of the final 10 minutes. UAM’s largest lead of 16 points came with 1:42 remaining in regulation during a stretch of six consecutive made free throws by the Boll Weevils. UAM’s Sergio Crowe led all scorers with 21 points, and also a game-high eight rebounds. Ryan Donahoe and Zack Howe tied for SWOSU’s team leader in scoring with 16 points each.