Arkansas Tech University is on its way to see the Gorillas, but this is no Thanksgiving week field trip to the zoo.
Arkansas Tech University will face a challenging non-conference basketball doubleheader at Pittsburg State University on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Game times at John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan., are set for 1 p.m. (women) and 3 p.m. (men). Live coverage of both games will be available on KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
The Pittsburg State women (5-1) are ranked in the top 15 of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II national poll. The Gorillas have won five consecutive games, including a 75-57 victory over two-time defending Great American Conference champion Southern Nazarene University.
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (2-1) have had a week to revel in their 58-43 win at Delta State University on Tuesday, Nov. 19. One of the keys was the defensive job Arkansas Tech did on the Lady Statesmen’s leading scorer, Grace Watson. She was limited to 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting from the floor.
With ATU starting post player Julie Wagner in foul trouble, Shelly Butler came off the bench and played a career-high 30 minutes to help stifle DSU’s Watson.
“Really credit our post defense,” said Dave Wilbers, ATU head women’s basketball coach. “Shelly came in there and played great the last two games. I’m really proud of her. She’s playing like a senior. It’s hard to simulate a big post player like (DSU) has in practice. It was an excellent team effort defensively.”
Pittsburg State’s men played in the 2024 NCAA Division II Tournament and are picked to finish top-3 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in 2024-25.
The Gorillas have lost three of their first five games to begin the season, but they have yet to play a home game. Pitt State’s men were 10-3 at John Lance Arena last season.
The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (3-2) are facing their fourth MIAA opponent of the season. ATU defeated Missouri Southern 61-56 on Nov. 8 and Newman University 95-64 on Nov. 9, but Missouri Western State University rallied from a 15-point, second-half deficit to squeeze past the Wonder Boys 69-67 on Friday.
“We have to grow up,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach. “I don’t think we shared the ball very well (against Missouri Western) and we didn’t finish around the rim.”
As disappointing as the loss to Missouri Western was, a win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday and a 3-1 record against the MIAA could be very valuable for Arkansas Tech’s men when it’s time to pick and seed teams for the NCAA Tournament in March.
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.
