Nationally top-ranked Arkansas Tech closed the first half on a 14-2 run and cruised to a 92-58 win over the Tuskegee Golden Tigers in the first round of the men’s NCAA Division II Tournament South Regional at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday night.
Tech (30-1) already led 29-18 before it went on the 14-2 run that gave it a 43-20 advantage at halftime.
The Wonder Boys outscored Tuskegee (20-11) 18-2 over the first 6:57 of the second half to claim an insurmountable 61-22 lead.
The victory clinched the first 30-win season in the 95-year history of Arkansas Tech men’s basketball.
The old school record of 29 wins in a men’s basketball season was shared by the 1954-55 Wonder Boys and the 1994-95 Wonder Boys.
Tech’s Jeremy Dunbar scored the first seven points of the game and led all scorers with 14 points. Irvin Humphrey and Renard Allen had 11 points apiece, while Brandon Friedel and Laithe Massey both notched 10 points.
Massey added a game-high nine rebounds to lead Arkansas Tech to a 42-33 edge in that category.
The Wonder Boys shot a season-best 58.5 percent (31-of-53) from the field.
Donald Lucious Jr. and Calvin Thomas led Tuskegee with 13 points apiece.
Arkansas Tech advances to face Valdosta State in the regional semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
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