BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Top-seeded and nationally-ranked No. 21 Arkansas Tech captured the inaugural Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship on Sunday by defeating No. 7 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State by a final score of 69-58 inside Bruin Fieldhouse.
The Wonder Boys (24-5) struggled early in the first half, only scoring two points through the first eight minutes. After that eight-point deficit, ATUresponded by using an 21-5 scoring run to take a 22-15 lead with 4:51 remaining in the first period.
ATU never trailed from that point and used four three-pointers in the firstfive minutes of the second half to record the team’s largest lead of the game, an 18-point advantage with 15:29 remaining. Three of those four treys came from Johnie Davis, who was held scoreless in the first half, but totaled 17 points in the final period.
SWOSU (17-12) cut the ATU lead to single digits in the final three minutes with a 14-4 scoring run that was capped by a three-pointer from senior Zack Howewith 2:42 remaining in regulation. That trey cut ATU’s lead to six points at 60-54. SWOSU climbed back to within six point again with 56 seconds remaining, but ATU closed the game with five unanswered points at the free-throw line to capture the victory.
With Sunday’s win over SWOSU, ATU has now been the victor of three of its past four conference championship tournaments. The Wonder Boys were Gulf South Conference champions in 2009 and 2010.
ATU’s Johnie Davis tied SWOSU’s Chase Elliott for the game-high of 17 points. ATU’s Jared Williamson and Will Paul each added 16 points. SWOSU’s Thomas Davis had 12 points.
Williamson was named the first ever GAC Men’s Basketball ChampionshipTournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in ATU’s wins over Southern Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist and SWOSU.
2012 GAC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jared Williamson, JR, Guard, Arkansas Tech (Most Valuable Player)
Johnie Davis, SR, Guard, Arkansas Tech
Chase Elliott, SR, Guard, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Dominick Cornelius, JR, Guard, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Michael Morris, JR, Forward, Ouachita Baptist
Nigel Ramsey, JR, Guard, Ouachita Baptist
Zach Roddenberry, JR, Forward, Zach Roddenberry
LA Farmer, SR, Guard, Arkansas-Monticello