BOX SCORE || BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Tied with the upset-minded Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm, top-seeded Arkansas Tech scored seven of the final nine points to win 63-58 and thus avoided becoming the third higher-seeded team to fall at the Great American Conference Men's Basketball Championships.
The seesaw battle saw four ties and four lead changes over the opening 20 minutes. Neither team built a lead of greater than seven points and Tech (21-8) held a one-point advantage at the break. The second half featured eight more ties and two lead changes.
Honorable Mention All-GAC forward Marshawn Arnold put Arkansas Tech out in front for good following the 12th tie of the ballgame with a powerful drive and lay-up. Bryson Fletcher extended the lead to four on jumper with 1:20 to push the lead to four.
Arnold and Darrick Little each scored 14 points for the Wonder Boys. In three games against Southeastern, Arnold averaged 18.3 points per game and has shot 64.5 percent from the floor. First-Team All-GAC guard Bobby Hatchett turned in a fine all-around game with nine points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Thanks to Arnold, the Wonder Boys outscored the Savage Storm 23-2 in bench points.
First-Team All-GAC forward Urald King paced the Savage Storm (9-18) with 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots. King averaged 20.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in his three contests with Arkansas Tech. Taylor Smaller hit four 3-point field goals in scoring 16 points as well.
The Wonder Boys will play the winner of Harding and East Central at 2:15 pm on Saturday. The Wonder Boys clinched the outright regular-season title by winning at East Central on Saturday. They also own a pair of one-point victories against Harding. All GAC Basketball Championship contests stream on
GACSportsNetwork.com.