Arkansas Tech University and Southern Arkansas University will meet for a Great American Conference basketball doubleheader at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
Tickets ($5 adults/$3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Those with a valid ATU identification card will be admitted free of charge.
It will be the fourth and final pre-holiday break GAC doubleheader for the ATU basketball teams.
The Wonder Boys will take on Texas A&M University-Kingsville for a non-league tilt in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 15, while the Golden Suns will play home non-conference games against Lane College (Sunday, Dec. 16) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (Sunday, Dec. 30) before both teams resume GAC play in January.
Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (3-4, 1-2 GAC) vs. SAU Lady Muleriders (1-6, 0-3 GAC)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Tucker Coliseum, Russellville
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 68-9
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech ranks top two in the GAC in scoring offense (77 points per game), 3-point field goal percentage (.357), rebound margin (+4.3 per game), steals (12.7 per game), turnover margin (+6.43 per game) and offensive rebounds (14.9 per game). The Golden Suns are 53-5 at home since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, and Tech has won 13 consecutive home games against SAU.
About the Lady Muleriders: Southern Arkansas suffered its fourth consecutive loss with a 67-55 setback against Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday. The Lady Muleriders rank last in the GAC in field goal percentage (.318) and 3-point field goal percentage (.218). They are next-to-last in scoring offense (53.9 points per game). SAU’s last road win over Arkansas Tech was a 75-65 triumph on Jan. 6, 2005.
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (2-6, 0-3 GAC) vs. SAU Muleriders (7-2, 2-1 GAC)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Tucker Coliseum, Russellville
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 95-71
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech is the top perimeter shooting team in NCAA Division II basketball this season. The Wonder Boys are averaging 13 made 3-point field goals per game to lead the nation in that category. ATU was also among the national leaders in 3-pointers in 2017-18 (10th, 11.6 per game) and 2016-17 (4th, 12 per game). The Wonder Boys made a school-record 348 3-pointers in 2016-17 and followed that with 335 made treys last season.
About the Muleriders: Southern Arkansas leads the GAC and ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in both field goal percentage defense (.376) and rebound margin (+10 per game). The Muleriders have won seven of their last eight games, and their only loss during that span was a 75-74 defeat at Harding University. SAU swept Arkansas Tech in 2017-18, defeating the Wonder Boys 80-76 in Russellville and 90-80 in Magnolia.
