Arkansas Tech University has won four consecutive men’s basketball games and looked very much like a Great American Conference title contender in an 85-50 win over Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday.
But that doesn’t mean the Wonder Boys (4-2) can afford to overlook Central Baptist College when the Mustangs come to Tucker Coliseum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5.
“It’s going to be a hard, hard game,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach. “Playing an out-of-conference game like this is supposed to be one where you can play a bunch of guys, but this one is not. (Central Baptist) is really good and it will be a tough game for us.”
Central Baptist (8-2) is led by Texas Tech University transfer Deshawn Corprew. He averaged 5 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest while appearing in 37 games for the Red Raiders during the NCAA Division I national runner-up season in 2018-19.
So far this season, Corprew is averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Mustangs.
Arkansas Tech will counter with junior guard Taelon Peter of Russellville, who is averaging 23.8 points per game and shooting 56 percent from 3-point range during the Wonder Boys’ current winning streak.
ATU had 17 assists and eight turnovers in its victory over Ouachita Baptist on Saturday. The Wonder Boys have made nine or more 3-pointers in five consecutive games.
“We really executed and shared the basketball,” said Downey after the game. “We kept doing that throughout the game. We didn’t stop at halftime. We grew up a little bit today. That was a lot of fun. That’s how we should be playing.”
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (3-2) will host Maryville University (2-6) for a 3 p.m. non-conference game on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
ATU’s women committed 24 turnovers in a 63-57 loss to Ouachita Baptist on Saturday. That performance came on the heels of 26 Golden Suns’ turnovers in a 58-48 win at the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday.
“We dribbled in front of people and they were taking it from us,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach, after the game on Saturday. “We couldn’t get into our offense. We have to play better (at the point guard position).”
Ball handling help is on the way in the form of Maisa Marcal, who averaged 14.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game while earning Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference co-player of the year honors in 2021-22. Marcal is making progress toward gaining clearance to return to action following an injury that has prevented her from playing for the Golden Suns so far this season.
Tickets for the games on Tuesday, Dec. 5, are available at www.arkansastechsports.com/tickets.
Live coverage of both games on Tuesday, Dec. 5, will be available over KCJC 102.3 FM, www.arkansastechsports.com and the EAB Media Group app.
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
