Arkansas Tech University’s basketball teams know the problem.
For the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns, it’s too many turnovers.
For the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys, it’s inconsistent rebounding.
ATU will strive to correct those issues when it visits Oklahoma for a pair of Great American Conference doubleheaders this week.
Arkansas Tech will face East Central University at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in Ada before traveling to Durant for a 1 and 3 p.m. doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Live coverage of all four games will be provided by KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
The Golden Suns (3-9 overall, 1-7 GAC) committed 11 turnovers in the first half of their game against Southern Nazarene University on Saturday and trailed 29-19 at the intermission.
ATU’s women gave the basketball away just once during the third quarter and rallied to briefly regain the lead, but four Golden Suns’ turnovers in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter helped fuel a 25-5 SNU run. The Crimson Storm pulled away for a 68-55 victory.
“We had some costly turnovers,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “And when we turned it over, they hit shots on us. Our girls are working hard and they have good attitudes. We just have to get over that spurt in the fourth quarter when the momentum swings the wrong way. It was the turnovers. We gave the basketball to them, and we have to get better at that if we’re going to win a basketball game.”
The Wonder Boys (6-8, 3-5) are 3-3 in their last six games. In the three wins during that span, ATU has posted a rebound margin of plus-37. In the three losses during that span, the Wonder Boys have lost the battle on the glass by a combined total of 29 rebounds.
“This team has not handled success very well this year,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach. “When we lose one or two, we can get fired up, execute and be locked in. But when we win one or two, we just let up. We weren’t ready to play today, and that’s on me. (SNU) was the more physical team. They were the aggressor. They wanted it more.”
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.
