Wonder Boys Come Away With a Win Over Southwestern Oklahoma

Courtesy ATU Athletics Department

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Will Paul scored 19 points with eight rebounds, Willie Kirkland scored 18 with ten rebounds, and Jared Williamson made 14 points while adding six assists as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (7-4, 4-1 GAC) men’s basketball team beat Southwestern Oklahoma State (4-7, 3-2 GAC) 69-52 Saturday night at Tucker Coliseum.

Paul, Kirkland, and Williamson scored a combined 51 points for the Wonder Boys while they held the Bulldogs to just 52 total points. Arkansas Tech also out rebounded Southwestern Oklahoma 39 to 30, led by Kirkland with ten.

Tech jumped out to an early lead off the hot hand of Willie Kirkland going up 7-2 after 1:30 of play. The Bulldogs would come back to take the lead at the 15:58 mark in the first half on a three-point basket by Dominick Cornelius. The Wonder Boys then opened up a 7-0 run starting with a mid-range jumper from Tyler Friedel that did not cease until the Bulldogs sunk a layup to make it 24-17 with 4:31 left in the half. Southwestern Oklahoma cut the lead to just one point (26-25) with a minute left in the half but Tech responded with a three-pointer from Friedel to give Tech the 29-25 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs came out ready to play in the second half and quickly tied the game 29-29 at the 18:46 mark after a big four-point play from Marin Zelalija. Tech hung on to a tight lead for the next ten minutes until the Wonder Boys started to pull away with 9:57 left in the game when they went on a 10-0 run led by Will Paul. Tech never looked back as they only increased their lead closing out the second half by extending their lead to 17 points and earning their fifth straight victory 69-52.

The Wonder Boys will return to action Thursday, January 10th to face Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.