No. 1-ranked Arkansas Tech dominated the first 26-plus minutes of the game and then coasted to an 88-77 win over the Delta State Statesmen at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday night.
The Wonder Boys (18-0 overall, 5-0 Gulf South Conference) used a 27-10 run to open a 47-24 lead over the Statesmen with 2:06 left before halftime.
Tech pulled away for a 64-38 advantage with 13:37 to go in the game. Delta State whittled the Wonder Boys’ lead down to 10 points in the closing moments, but it was too little too late as Tech claimed sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division standings.
A crowd of 4,122 fans attended the game. It was the largest crowd ever to watch Arkansas Tech basketball at Tucker Coliseum.
Tech’s Brandon Friedel (photographed) was 7-of-13 from 3-point range and finished with 26 points. Friedel also had seven assists and five rebounds.
Jeremy Dunbar made four 3-pointers and had 18 points for the Wonder Boys, while Laithe Massey netted 14 points and made six assists. Irvin Humphrey and Renard Allen added 11 points apiece.
Chad Akins led Delta State (13-4, 4-1) with 26 points and six assists. The loss snapped the Statesmen’s eight-game winning streak.
The Wonder Boys will host Arkansas-Monticello at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
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