Wonder Boys Hold Off Henderson State, 75-63

Courtesy ATU Athletics Department

Tech wins their fifth straight home game

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Willie Kirkland scored a career-high 26 points and added a team-high nine rebounds, Kendell Pinkney scored ten points, and Jared Williamson scored eight as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (8-5, 4-2 GAC) held off the Henderson State Reddies (8-5, 3-4 GAC) 75-63 in Saturday night’s game. 

Henderson State got off to a quick 5-0 lead in the first two minutes of play off a three-point basket from Jonathan Fitzgerald. Tech would fight back by tying up the game 13-13 with a breakaway dunk from Kirkland with 13:39 left in the first half. The two teams traded baskets and evened the game up 20-20 at the 8:00 mark. Another layup from Kirkland tied the game up (31-31) for the fifth time with just 1:40 to go in the half but a Reddie layup would give Henderson State the 33-32 halftime lead.

Arkansas Tech scored 24 points in the paint compared to Henderson State’s eight at the half. Tech also seized control of the boards, gathering 21 rebounds and converting nine offensive rebounds into ten second chance points. 

The Wonder Boys regained the lead quickly in the second half and pushed the score to 48-39 with another layup from Kirkland with 15:22 left in the ballgame. Tech maintained a comfortable lead with solid defense for the next few minutes until the Reddies went on an 11-3 run from 10:38 to the 6:12 mark to make it 59-57 with Tech in the lead. A slam dunk from Marshawn Arnold started a two minute 8-0 run for the Wonder Boys and they were able to hold off Henderson State to the buzzer with a final score of 75-63.

“We had some guys step in and play really well. Kendell Pinkney was absolutely incredible, he just played hard and was by far the best player on the court tonight,” said head coach Doug Karleskint. “We got on the floor late in the game and hustled like we needed to.” 

Arkansas Tech won the rebounding battle, outrebounding Henderson State 50 to 31. Tech also shot 50% from the field going 29-of-58 while holding Henderson State to just 33%. 

The Wonder Boys will return to action on Thursday, January 17th against Arkansas-Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m