WONDER BOYS BASKETBALL DROPS SECOND STRAIGHT, FALLS ON THE ROAD IN GSC ACTION AT DELTA STATE

        CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Arkansas Tech Men’s Basketball couldn’t overcome 61 percent field goal shooting and 26 second-half free throws from Delta State here Thursday as the Wonder Boys fell 88-84 to the Statesmen in Gulf South Conference action at Walter Sillers Coliseum.

Tech, who fell to 13-6 overall and 4-2 in the GSC West Division, struggled with its defense most of the night as the Wonder Boys allowed the Statesmen to shoot 53 percent from the field for the game and allowed 88 points, which was the most points Tech had allowed in a game since North Alabama scored 94 in its 94-74 win in Russellville on Jan. 5.

“It is a disappointing loss for our team. We didn’t guard tonight like we needed too,” Tech Head Coach Mark Downey said. “No one stepped up to the challenge tonight and we lacked toughness.”

 The loss give Tech, who entered the game ranked fourth in the South Region rankings that were released on Wednesday, just its second two-game losing skid of the season and its first since losing back-to-back games in early December at Lincoln and at Lipscomb University.

“We weren’t on the same page tonight and weren’t prepared to play for some reason,” the second-year Tech coach said. “Maybe it is time to make some adjustments to the line-up, but our effort has got to get better.”

Tech, who trailed 39-34 at the half, used a 35-24 run over a span of 10 minutes in the second half to turn a 47-37 deficit into a 72-71 lead on a basket by sophomore guard Renard Allen (New Orleans, La.). Tech’s run was keyed by 11 points from junior guard Chad Henderson (Memphis, Tenn.) and eight points from Allen.

Following Tech’s run, DSU reclaimed the lead on a lay-up by Eric Spencer with 3:54 left in the game. Spencer’s lay-up keyed a 13-5 run by the Statesmen to push out to an 86-77 advantage with 33 seconds remaining in the contest. Tech, though, wouldn’t go away without a fight as they closed the game by scoring seven of the final nine points to provide the final margin.

“I thought our bench did a good job tonight stepping in early in the second half and helping us get back in the game,” said Downey. “I’m disappointed by our leadership. It needs to get better in a hurry.”

Delta’s final run was spearheaded by two three-pointers from Earnesto Green, who finished with 20 points in the win.

“No one stepped up and guarded Earnesto down the stretch,” the Tech coach said.

Tech’s second half rally was fueled by strong play off the bench from senior forward Robert Kennedy (Madison, Ill.), sophomore forward Irvin Humphrey (Boutte, La.) and sophomore guard John Clark (Marmaduke, Ark.).

Kennedy, who played just his second game as a Wonder Boy after transferring in at the beginning of the second semester from Murray State, tallied six points before fouling out with 4:29 left in the game in the second half and eight for game. In addition, Humphrey and Clark combined for eight second-half points as both of them scored four points on the night.

“Robert is a good player, but he needs to get in game shape, but he can score and will help us on defense,” Downey added.

Henderson led the way for Tech with a career-high 21 points, while Allen added a career-high 20 points to go along with a career-best 13 rebounds in the loss. Junior guard Jamar Flowers (White Castle, La.) added 16 points, including scoring nine of those points in the first half. It was Flowers’ fourth straight 16 point effort.

In addition to Green’s 20 points, Spencer led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Chad Akins chipped in with 12 points and Jordan Clements had 10 points, all of which came in the second half.

The Statesmen jumped out to an early 16-8 lead just five minutes into the game, but Tech 17-8 run capped by a lay-up from senior guard Darren Tarver (Akron, Ohio) to take a 25-24 lead. Tech’s lead, though, would be shortlived as DSU used a 15-4 run to push out to a 39-29 lead with 1:32 left in the half. Tech, though, closed the half with a trey from Allen and a lay-up by Henderson to go into halftime trailing by five.   

For the game, Tech shot 43 percent from the field and 33 percent (5-for-15) from long distance, but stayed in the game thanks to hitting 23-of-35 (66 percent) free throws and holding a 39-34 edge on the glass. DSU, on the other hand, shot 25-for-36 (69 percent) from the charity stripe as both teams combined to record 50 fouls, including 34 in the second half.

Tech will return to action in less than 48 hours and they host Ouachita Baptist on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to dress in costumes as Tech Athletics celebrates Mardi Gras.

Delta State Box Score      

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