There's one thing about that second when the hit that might finish your season is up within the air.
The Arkansas Tech Marvel Boys appeared into that abyss Thursday afternoon and lived to inform the story. Now, they’re one win away from a return journey to the championship sport of the Nice American Convention event.
The Marvel Boys (23-6) held off the Harding Bisons 67-65 within the opening spherical. Harding's Keyln McBride hoisted a Three-pointer from the highest of the important thing as time expired that might have despatched the ATU males house to Russellville, however it was extensive of the mark.
“I'm undecided we deserved to win that sport, however we discovered a manner and I'm pleased with that,” mentioned Mark Downey, ATU head males's basketball coach and 2023-24 GAC Coach of the 12 months. “We knew we have been going to must survive at present.”
The explanation Downey knew that’s the well being of Marvel Boys main scorer and GAC Participant of the 12 months Taelon Peter. He injured his taking pictures wrist within the closing sport of the common season and tweaked his ankle in warmups earlier than Thursday's sport. Peter, who’s averaging 19.eight factors per sport this season, scored 5 factors on 1-of-5 taking pictures from the ground Thursday.
“It hit a little bit bit,” Downey mentioned. “He advised me, proper after the sport, when he left the sphere, 'don't go away my aspect as a result of I'll be prepared on Saturday.' Let's hope we get again the Taelon Peter we've seen all yr on Saturday. While you don't have the perfect participant within the league … it may need been 50 % … that makes it robust.”
Arkansas Tech overcame that hurdle behind its protection. The Marvel Boys, who’re No. 1 within the GAC in scoring protection and area purpose share protection this season, held Harding to 35 % taking pictures from the ground.
Subsequent up for Arkansas Tech's males shall be a GAC Match semifinal towards Northwestern Oklahoma State College (17-12). Tip-off is about for two:15pm Saturday on KCJC 102.Three FM, www.arkansastechsports.com and the EAB Media Group app. All GAC event video games are performed at FireLake Enviornment in Shawnee, Okla.
The Marvel Boys and Rangers cut up their common season collection. Northwestern Oklahoma State defeated Arkansas Tech 63-54 in Russellville on Jan. 18, and the Marvel Boys returned the favor with a 70-63 victory in Alva, Okla., on Feb. 24.
The championship match of the lads's GAC event shall be performed on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The champion will advance to the NCAA Division II Match.
Arkansas Tech was one win away from a GAC Match title in 2023. ATU's males stood within the FireLake Enviornment hall and watched Southern Arkansas lower down the nets 12 months in the past. Since then, the Marvel Boys have been on a mission to be the staff that lifts the GAC Match trophy in 2024. They want two extra wins to tug it off.
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.