Arkansas Tech University used a 13-0 spurt to start the second half to pull away from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and win 98-85 in Great American Conference men’s basketball at Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva, Okla., on Thursday night.
The first half saw four ties and 11 lead changes. Neither side led by more than seven points over the first 20 minutes and the score was tied 47-47 at the intermission.
Tech’s Justin Graham set the tone for the second half by making a 3-pointer on the first possession after halftime. Montrell Williams followed with a 15-foot jump shot from the left baseline, and then Trevin Woods took over for the Wonder Boys (12-4 overall, 8-4 GAC).
Woods scored eight points in a span of less than one minute to complete the decisive 13-0 Arkansas Tech run and give the Wonder Boys a 60-47 lead at the 17:15 mark of the second half.
Arkansas Tech maintained at least an 11-point lead the rest of the way as it won for the ninth time in its last 11 games and moved within two games of first place in the GAC men’s basketball standings.
Graham finished with a season-high 24 points. He was 7-of-7 from the field, including 6-of-6 from 3-point range. Woods also established a new personal best with 17 points, and Tech’s Mason Cline matched his season high by scoring 12 points.
Williams had 19 points for the Wonder Boys, while Grant Prusator finished with 11 points.
Arkansas Tech was 18-of-33 (55 percent) from 3-point range, one made trey short of tying the school record.
Adrian Motley had a game-high 26 points for the Rangers (8-9, 4-8), who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
The Wonder Boys will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University for a 1 p.m. GAC contest in Weatherford, Okla., on Saturday, Jan. 28. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
