Alva Review-Courier -

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – With 23 points from the bench, including 17 from Branden Williams, Arkansas Tech defeated Ouachita Baptist, 78-66, on Thursday. Alex Brown led the Wonder Boys with 18 points in the victory.

NEXT UP

The Wonder Boys (8-3, 4-3 GAC) travel to Magnolia this weekend to take on Southern Arkansas. Game time on Saturday is set for 3 p.m. Live audio, video, and statistics are available at http://www.arkansastechsports.com. The game will be carried live on 102.3-FM (KCJC) in Russellville, with Sam Strasner calling the play-by-play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first 16 minutes of play featured three ties and eight lead changes, but Arkansas Tech outscored Ouachita 14-7 through the rest of the first half, taking a 44-37 lead into halftime.

Williams led the Wonder Boys with 12 points and six rebounds in the first half, as Tech shot 50 percent from the field. Arkansas Tech also grabbed 10 offensive boards in the 20-minute period, resulting in 13 second-chance points.

Arkansas Tech led for the entire second half, despite Ouachita cutting Tech's lead to five points on three occasions. The Wonder Boys took their largest lead of 14 points on a three-pointer by Freddy Lee with 14:21 to play that capped a 10-1 run.

The Wonder Boys netted just 37.5 percent of field goals in the half, but five three-pointers and eight offensive rebounds allowed Tech to maintain its lead.

Arkansas Tech finished the game shooting nearly 44 percent from the floor and 31 percent from three-point range. The Wonder Boys also converted on 11-12 free-throws for a season-high 91.7 percent.

NOTABLES

The Wonder Boys out-rebounded the Tigers, 44-28, their highest rebound margin of the season. The 66 points allowed by Arkansas Tech are a season-low.

Brown's 18 points came on 8-14 field goals. He has recorded at least 16 points in his previous six games. Williams was 5-9 from the floor and drained all six free-throws to go along with nine rebounds.

Bennie Lufile produced his fifth double-double of the season, tallying 15 points and 11 boards. Lufile is the only player in the Great American Conference averaging at least 10 rebounds per game.

Justin Graham added 12 points and five rebounds, and Lee finished with six points, seven boards, four assists and four steals in his first start of the season.

COACH KLINE SAYS

"I thought our defense was better at times tonight. Holding them to 66 points is pretty good. We emphasized protecting the three-point line tonight, and we did that."

"A lot of guys stepped up. Branden, who has been out for a while with an injury, came back, and I thought he had a heck of a game. It is a good way to start five games in 10 days."