There were two certainties when the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team hit a dry spell in late November and early December: it wouldn’t last forever, and when it turned around, it would start on the defensive end of the floor.
The Wonder Boys (5-6 overall, 2-3 Great American Conference) went into the holiday break on a two-game winning streak following a 64-59 victory at Southern Arkansas University on Dec. 14 and a 56-33 home win over the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Dec. 19.
After allowing its previous five opponents to cumulatively shoot better than 50 percent from the floor, Arkansas Tech held SAU to 33 percent and UAM to 29 percent field goal shooting.
The 33 points the Wonder Boys allowed against the Boll Weevils represented the best scoring defense effort by ATU’s men since they held Hendrix College to 33 points on Jan. 6, 1962.
“We were pretty locked in,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach, following the win over UAM. “We did a good job of taking away their stuff. To hold somebody to 33…that’s pretty impressive. Our problem defensively during the losing streak was stretches of 5-to-6 minutes where we stopped doing what we do. Our focus has been better and certain guys are doing a better job. It’s fun to coach when these guys are locked in.”
Arkansas Tech will return from a 16-day break from game competition when it visits Ouachita Baptist University for a GAC doubleheader at Vining Arena in Arkadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Game times are 1 and 3 p.m. Live coverage of both games will be provided by KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
Ouachita’s men (7-4, 2-3) are led by junior forward Hobert Grayson, who ranks second in the GAC in scoring (24.4 points per game).
The Ouachita women (4-5, 0-5) are under the direction of first-year head coach Kiley Hill, a 1995 ATU graduate who won 279 games as the head women’s basketball coach at Valdosta State University from 2000-16.
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (3-6, 1-4) are looking for a fresh start after losing five of their final six games before the holiday break.
Senior forward Julie Wagner has been among the bright spots for ATU’s women. She is averaging career highs of 11.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field, which ranks second in the GAC this season.
“Julie has had a great year so far,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “She is playing hard and finishing shots.”
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.
