WONDER BOYS SNAP THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK, COLLECTS
ROAD VICTORY AT HENDERSON STATE

         ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Men’s Basketball put the brakes on two streaks here Thursday as the Wonder Boys snapped its season-high three-game losing streak and also snapped an 11-game losing skid at Henderson State with its 70-63 victory over the Reddies in Gulf South Conference action at the Duke Wells Center.

Prior to Thursday’s win over the Reddies, Tech last won at HSU on Jan. 18, 1997, when the Wonder Boys collected a 71-67 win.

Tech, who improved to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in GSC West Division, used a strong effort on the defensive end, including forcing 20 turnovers that led to a 24 points and taking at least five charges on the night.

“We gave a good effort tonight and I was pleased by that,” Wonder Boys Head Coach Mark Downey said. “Our defense gave a great effort and we were able to force the tempo and create turnovers and were also able to take at least six charges for the game.”

Tech’s strong defensive effort was needed as the Wonder Boys struggled most of the night with its consistency as they shot 42 percent from the floor, 29 percent (7-for-24) from the 3-point line and 50 percent from the free throw line.

“I thought we settled for too many jump shots in the first half,” Downey said. “We regrouped and played well in the second half. I asked our players to give maximum effort everytime they stepped out on the floor.”

Tech, who led 33-29 at the half, took command of the game thanks opening the second half outscoring the Reddies, 10-4, to push out to a 43-33 lead just a little over two minutes into the half. After HSU used a 10-5 run to pull within 48-43 with 12:14 left, Tech used 12-5 run capped by a three-pointer from senior forward Robert Kennedy (Madison, Ill.) to pull out to a 60-48 lead with seven minutes left in the contest.

 The Reddies, who fell to 2-18 overall and 0-8 GSC, responded with a 13-6 run over a span of five minutes to drop Tech’s lead to 66-61. The run was capped by a two free throws from Antoine Vinson. From that point, Tech closed game’s scoring with a lay-up from junior guard Chad Henderson (Memphis, Tenn.) and free throws from freshman guard Laithe Massey (Heber Springs, Ark.) and sophomore guard Brandon Friedel (Victoria, Texas).

Henderson led Tech with 15 points, while junior guard Jamar Flowers (White Castle, La.) added 14 points in the win. The 14 points snapped Flowers’ string of scoring 16 points each in the previous five games. Junior forward Troy Marcus (Bronx, NY) had 12 points off the bench and Friedel added 10 points thanks to hitting three of Tech’s seven treys on the night.

 In the first half, Tech opened the game scoring 12 of the first 17 points, before HSU used an 8-0 run capped by a lay-up from James Williams with 12:23 left in the half to push in front 13-12. Two possessions later, Tech retook the lead on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Dexter Hendrix (Benton, Ark.), before HSU used a 7-2 run to retake the lead at 20-17 with 9:17 left in the half. Tech, though, used a Friedel three-pointer about 74 seconds later to retake the lead at 22-20.

HSU would answer Tech’s mini-run with a 7-4 spurt capped by a lay-up by Lucas Whisenhunt to retake the lead at 27-26 with a little under five minutes remaining until halftime. The Wonder Boys though used two free throws from Kennedy to retake the lead and closed the half outscoring the Reddies, 5-2, to head into the locker room with its four-point advantage.

 The Reddies were paced offensively by Jerome Wilson’s 16 points, while Antoine Vinson chipped in with 12 points and Sean Romey and Jonathan Simms each added 10 points in the loss.

While Tech struggled shooting the ball, HSU finished the night shooting 45 percent from the field, but just 29 percent from long distance. The Reddies, though, hung in there most of the game thanks to its 40-37 edge on the glass and its 28-20 advantage in points in the paint.

“We’ll take this win on the road,” Downey added. “It is tough to play on the road, but I thought our guys battled out there and really wanted it down the stretch.”

The Wonder Boys will now take a week off before returning to action on Thursday, Feb. 14, with a 7 p.m. contest at Christian Brothers in Memphis, Tenn. Tech earned a 59-53 win over the Buccaneers earlier this season (Jan. 17) in Russellville.

Henderson State Box Score 

-- Tech Athletics --