With eight games remaining in the Great American Conference schedule, the Arkansas Tech University basketball teams are primed to make a push for the postseason.
This week, the Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will visit Ouachita Baptist University on Thursday, Feb. 6, before returning home to host Southern Arkansas University at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Tickets for Saturday’s games ($5 adults/$3 senior citizens and students) will be available at the Tucker Coliseum door. Those with a valid ATU identification card will be admitted free of charge. The games against SAU will begin at 1 and 3 p.m.
ATU Golden Suns (13-5, 10-4 GAC) vs. OBU Tigers (4-16, 1-13 GAC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Vining Arena, Arkadelphia
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: ATU leads 69-15
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech has won five consecutive games, including a 70-62 victory at Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday that earned the Golden Suns a share of first place in the GAC standings. ATU leads the GAC in field goal percentage defense (.373) and rebound margin (+9.3 per game). Freshman guard Kaley Shipman (12.2 points per game) and junior guards Ke’Vonshaye Stackhouse (11.9 points per game) and Jayana Sanders (10.1 points per game) are the Golden Suns’ leading scorers. ATU has won 13 consecutive games against the Ouachita women, including an 80-58 triumph at Tucker Coliseum on Nov. 21.
About the Tigers: Ouachita Baptist has lost eight consecutive games.The Tigers’ roster has been reduced to six healthy players in recent weeks. OBU ranks last in the GAC in scoring offense (59.9 points per game), field goal percentage defense (.434) and turnover margin (-4.75 per game). Junior guard Maija Gertsone (13.1 points per game) ranks 12th in the conference in scoring. The Tigers have not defeated Arkansas Tech in a women’s basketball game since Jan. 9, 2014.
ATU Wonder Boys (11-9, 7-7 GAC) vs. OBU Tigers (8-11, 5-9 GAC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Vining Arena, Arkadelphia
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: OBU leads 91-83
About the Wonder Boys: Three consecutive losses have dropped Arkansas Tech into a share of sixth place in the GAC. The top eight teams in the final league standings will advance to the GAC Tournament March 5-8 in Bartlesville, Okla. Junior guard R.J. Glasper ranks top 10 in the league in scoring (8th, 18.2 per game), assists (3rd, 6.1 per game), free throw percentage (10th, .830), steals (T-9th, 1.6 per game) and 3-point field goals made (8th, 2.6 per game). Glasper scored 16 of his game-high 24 points after halftime to lead the Wonder Boys to an 82-74 victory over Ouachita Baptist at Tucker Coliseum on Nov. 21.
About the Tigers: Ouachita Baptist is on the outside looking in at the GAC postseason party with four weeks left in the regular season. The Tigers are one game behind the University of Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the race for the eighth and final ticket to the GAC Tournament. Senior guard Allie Freeman was still playing for the Ouachita football team when Tech and OBU first met this season. Now, Freeman is averaging 11.1 points per game for the Tiger basketball team. He ranks fourth in the GAC in 3-point field goal percentage (.448).
