BOX SCORE
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Arkansas Tech remained perfect in Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship play as the defending champion Wonder Boys beat Henderson State, 77-47, in Friday’s second quarterfinal contest from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
After the Reddies (14-13) closed the Wonder Boys’ lead to 37-33 early in the second half, Arkansas Tech (17-10) exploded for a 40-14 run that spanned the final 15 minutes of the game. The 30-point margin represented the largest margin of victory in the nine-game history of the GAC Championship.
Arkansas Tech-Henderson State Photo Gallery
Jared Williamson, last year’s Championship MVP, led four Wonder Boys in double figures as he went for 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Tyler Friedel came off the bench and provided 14 points and six rebounds. GAC Newcomer of the Year Willie Kirkland also pitched in 14 points. Friedel and Kirkland combined to connect on 6-of-8 from the 3-point arc.
Marshawn Arnold added 10 points and eight rebounds and Arkansas Tech welcomed the return of Will Paul to action for the first time since he suffered a foot injury on Jan. 17. He contributed five points and three rebounds in 10 minutes of action.
Second-Team All-GAC forward Andrew Ensley led Henderson State with 13 points and six rebounds. Outside of Ensley, the Reddie offense struggled as they shot only 31.3 percent from the floor.
The Wonder Boys advanced to Saturday’s semifinals where they will face Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Wonder Boys met in last year’s final with Arkansas Tech claiming the title. Arkansas Tech won both regular-season meetings this year.