Tech improved to 4-1 on the season and ran its regular season winning streak over GSC East Division foe to eight straight games, while UWA fell to 3-2 on the season with the loss.
The Wonder Boys, who trailed by as much as 15 points just two minutes into the second half, held the Tigers without a field goal over the final seven minutes of the game as Tech outscored UWA, 16-6, to post the come-from-behind victory.
“Our team showed a lot of toughness tonight,” Wonder Boys first-year head coach Doug Karleskint said. “We decided to finally play defense over the final 10 minutes of the game and that was the difference.”
Tech needed its defense to earn Saturday’s win as the Wonder Boys struggled offensively as the Wonder Boys shot a season-low 30 percent from the field and connected on just five of its 21 three-point shots (24 percent).
“Our defensive effort was tremendous tonight, especially over the final seven minutes of the game,” said Karleskint, who won his first road game as Tech’s coach.
Tech, who is ranked 22nd in this week’s first regular season NABC/Division II Coaches’ Poll, trailed 41-26 just two minutes into the second half, before the Wonder Boys used a 13-0 run capped by a three-pointer from senior guard Willie Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla.) to pull within 41-39 with 13:24 left in the game. Sanders finished the game with a career-high 24 points, including scoring 14 points in the first half to keep the Wonder Boys in the game as Tech trailed just 36-26 at the half.
“I’m proud of the way Willie played tonight. He kept us in the game, especially in the first half,” the Tech coach said. “Plus, I thought our seniors stepped up and showed some leadership. They are a group of winners.”
The 24 points bettered Sanders’ previous career-high of 15 points set last season at North Alabama.
Following Tech’s second-half run, the Tigers rebounded as they used an 11-6 run to push its lead to 52-45 following a basket by Ryan Fitch with 7:01 left in the contest.
Fitch’s field goal would be the final one for the Tigers as UWA misfired on its final seven shots and ended the game missing its final six free throw attempts after pulling out to a 58-51 edge with 3:35 left in the contest on two free throws by Fitch.
Following Fitch’s free throw, junior guard Johnie Davis (Canton, Ohio) scored two straight baskets and Sanders drew the Wonder Boys within a point at 58-57 following a basket by Sanders with 1:19 left in the game. After a turnover by Richard Dixon just 18 seconds later, Davis gave Tech its first lead since early in the first half after hitting a 15-foot runner with 31.6 seconds left in the game.
The Wonder Boys completed the game’s scoring with 13 seconds left following two free throws by junior guard Matt Haney (Dardanelle, Ark.).
“We battled all game long after struggling shooting the ball,” Karleskint said. “Our kids had the will to win.”
In addition to Sanders, Davis scored 11 points, including tallying eight of those over the final seven minutes of the game, while senior forward James Causey (Tangipahoa, La.) added 10 points in the victory.
UWA was led offensively by Alquan Mendenhall with 14 points, while Trevell Coleman added 13 points and Fitch chipped in with 10 points in the loss.
The Tigers finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field, including shooting 57 percent from the floor in the first half and shot 29 percent from the 3-point line. In addition, UWA held a 40-31 edge on the glass, but the Tigers committed 23 turnovers and its bench was outscored, 37-13. Tech finished the game with 11 turnovers.
Tech will continue its two-game road swing through the Southeast as they travel to Carrollton, Ga., for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Monday, Nov. 29 at West Georgia. The Wolves are 2-1 on the season entering its home game Saturday night against Harding.
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