For the 21st time in 24 NCAA Division II convention basketball match appearances, Arkansas Tech College will compete within the championship recreation on Sunday.
The Surprise Boys (24-6) superior to the fifth recreation of the Nice American Convention match with a 54-53 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State College within the semifinals at FireLake Enviornment in Shawnee, Okla., on Saturday.
The sport turned on a play by Tommy Kamarad with ATU trailing 53-50 with 1:13 remaining. He blocked a shot from Probability Love, rebounded and saved the ball in bounds.
From there, it was all Arkansas Tech. Kamarad made two free throws with 58.eight seconds left, Cassius Brooks made two free throws with 19.9 seconds left to present the Surprise Boys their first lead of the second half, and Northwestern Oklahoma State (17-13) missed a Three-pointer on the buzzer.
Brooks completed with a career-high 26 factors. Kamarad had 16 factors and 11 rebounds for his second double-double as a Surprise Boy.
“We simply had a bunch of winners,” stated ATU head males's basketball coach Mark Downey. “We misplaced the man within the nook however we have been a bit fortunate. They out coached us and our guys simply discovered a option to win. We’ve a knack for guarding on the finish of the sport. I'm glad these guys are on our workforce.”
It units up a championship recreation Sunday at 1 p.m. between Arkansas Tech and Southern Nazarene (16-13). The fourth-seeded Crimson Storm defeated top-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State 86-72 in Saturday's different semifinal.
Southern Nazarene defeated ATU's males 78-77 in Bethany, Okla., and 67-52 in Russellville in the course of the common season.
Arkansas Tech has received 9 straight since that February eight residence loss to SNU. A win on Sunday will surely be an ideal 10.
“It's one other toughness recreation,” Downey stated. “We struggled to protect them as a result of their guards are so large and bodily. Our guards should be good defensively. Their defender is excellent. You’ll be able to't allow them to take photographs. If you happen to allow them to hit, they're arduous to beat. Coach (BJ) Foster does an unbelievable job. Will probably be arduous. Our boys shall be excited to play. We simply should discover a option to win.”
The Crimson Storm have been GAC match champions in 2018 and 2019 and runner-up in 2022.
The Surprise Boys have been GAC match champions in 2012 and 2015 and runners-up in 2013 and 2023.
Saturday was Downey's 300th win as a head coach. Sunday shall be his 500th recreation as a head coach. It's a profession that features Gulf South Convention Event championships at Arkansas Tech in 2009 and 2010. With a win Sunday, he would lead the Surprise Boys to their first NCAA Division II Event look in seven years. It will mark one other step in his restoration of a program he as soon as guided to a nationwide rating of No. 1.
“If you begin hitting milestones like that, it simply means you've been doing it a very long time and also you're getting previous,” Downey stated when requested about his 300th win. “It's all the previous gamers, all the previous workers members, the present gamers and the workers … you begin hitting milestones like that, that's what it means to have good gamers and good folks round you.”
Reside protection of Sunday's recreation shall be out there on KCJC 102.Three FM, www.arkansastechsports.com and the EAB Media Group app. Pregame protection on KCJC will start at 12:45 p.m
I'm speaking to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU's director of college relations and play-by-play radio voice for ATU soccer and basketball.