The 22-game fight for the Great American Conference men’s and women’s basketball regular season championships begins this week.
Arkansas Tech University will open league play with its longest trip in the GAC, venturing to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva for a 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday, Dec. 5, before moving on to Weatherford to face Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
All four games will be carried live on KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
The Wonder Boys (3-3) must shake off back-to-back narrow losses to Missouri Western State University and Pittsburg State University to conclude their pre-conference slate.
“We don’t have guys stepping up,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach, after the 72-64 setback at Pitt State on Nov. 27. “Now, instead of being on a high and moving forward, we’re trying to survive. It’s hard to win when you’re trying to survive. We have to be tougher. We need to go back to work. We’re .500, and we have the toughest road trip of the conference season to start.”
Thursday will feature a match-up of two of the top players in GAC men’s basketball. ATU senior guard Cassius Brooks (19.3 points per game) ranks sixth in the GAC in scoring, while NWOSU sophomore guard Max Alexander (27.8 points per game) entered the week leading all of NCAA Division II in scoring.
The Golden Suns (2-2) dropped a 75-55 decision at Pitt State on Nov. 27 in their final pre-conference contest. The Gorilla women entered the game shooting 48 percent from the field this season, but ATU held them to 36 percent.
“There were times in the game we played at a very high level on both ends, which is something we can build on,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “We need to tighten our game up offensively. There are times we are in good position, and especially down low our post players have to score when we get the ball down there. We have to shoot the ball better. Every piece of our game needs to get better before we start conference.”
Senior guard Olivia Jones (12.5 points per game) and junior guard Hayleigh Wyrick (11.8 points per game) are the Golden Suns’ leading scorers this season. NWOSU’s women are led by senior guard Payton Jones (15.5 points per game) and freshman guard Kennedy Hight (12.8 points per game).
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.
