Where there is life, there is hope.
Arkansas Tech University kept its chances of qualifying for the Great American Conference Tournament in men’s basketball alive with a 70-47 win over East Central University on Sunday.
“We’ve got to start fast,” said Mark Downey, ATU head men’s basketball coach, following the win over ECU. “We were great on the glass and really guarded them in the first half. I’m proud of this group for the fight…to just keep coming back, trying to make plays and staying in the fight. We’re not out of it. I’d love to get in. You know how I love tournament time. When this team plays with confidence, we can play with anyone in this league.”
Now, the Wonder Boys (10-16 overall, 7-13 GAC) must defeat Henderson State University (16-10, 12-8) at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia on Thursday, Feb. 27, and hope for a Southern Arkansas University (12-14, 9-11) loss that same evening when the Muleriders host Ouachita Baptist University (19-7, 14-6).
If those two results come to pass, Arkansas Tech will put itself in position to potentially vie for the eighth and final spot in the GAC Tournament on the final day of the regular season on Saturday, March 1. The Wonder Boys won the GAC Tournament title last season.
The part of the Thursday equation that ATU can control will not be easy to achieve. Henderson State came to Tucker Coliseum and defeated the Wonder Boys 75-61 on Dec. 12. The Reddies outscored ATU 44-28 in points in the paint.
“They kicked our tail on the glass and they kicked our tail inside,” said Downey when reflecting on the first ATU-HSU game. “It’s always hard to go to Henderson and win. We’re still playing for something, and that’s fun. We’ve got two games left. Let’s make the best of it.”
The ATU-HSU doubleheader will be played at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The regular season-ending doubleheader between ATU and SAU on Saturday, March 1, is booked for a 1 and 3 p.m. start at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.
Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader are available at www.arkansastechsports.com/tickets. Live coverage of all four games will be available on KCJC 102.3 FM, www.arkansastechsports.com and the EAB Media Group app.
The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (6-18, 4-16) have been eliminated from contention for a postseason berth. Their season will end on Saturday afternoon.
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.
