The 97-70 win over Mission University was fine. The real victory for the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys on Monday was the opportunity to make basketball fans out of the approximately 2,000 Arkansas River Valley elementary school students who attended the game at Tucker Coliseum.
“To hear that roar when our guys ran out…man, that’s pretty special,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach. “Thank you to all of the superintendents and administrators who allowed this to happen. We’re glad we can do this for the community and give back.”
The Wonder Boys (3-1) will host the Missouri Western Griffons (5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Tucker Coliseum. Missouri Western, a member of NCAA Division II and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, has won five consecutive games. The Griffons’ last four victories have all come by double figures.
Tickets for Friday’s game are available at www.arkansastechsports.com/tickets.
“This is a big one,” said Downey. “Just like the first two games of the year, you have to protect your home court. They’re going to be a good team in the MIAA, so games like this one are huge for regional rankings. We’ll be prepared.”
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns were clearly prepared for their first trip to Walter Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Miss., in nine years.
The Golden Suns (2-1) defeated the Delta State Lady Statesmen 58-43 on Tuesday. It was Arkansas Tech’s first road win over the Lady Statesmen since March 1, 2003, and ATU head coach Dave Wilbers’ first career road victory over Delta State.
The win came in the 50th all-time meeting between the Lady Statesmen and the Golden Suns, both of whom rank top 10 in NCAA Division II history in all-time wins and winning percentage.
“Our defense was fantastic,” said Wilbers. “Delta State has a good team. They are a hard match-up, but I thought our defensive effort was A-plus. Our ladies did a great job with the game plan and the scouting report. We played a great game in a very difficult place to win. Things change, but Delta State is still Delta State and Arkansas Tech is still Arkansas Tech.”
The Golden Suns’ next contest will be part of a non-conference doubleheader at Pittsburg State University (Kan.) on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Game times are 1 p.m. (women) and 3 p.m. (men).
The Wonder Boys’ game against Missouri Western on Friday and both of the games at Pittsburg State on Wednesday will be carried live over KCJC 102.3 FM, the EAB Media Group app and www.arkansastechsports.com.
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.
