RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Henderson State erased an 11-point second half deficit to take the lead on Friday afternoon, but a big run from Arkansas Tech proved to be the difference as the Wonder Boys defeated the Reddies, 79-65.
Josh Mason had a career-high 18 points for HSU in defeat. Mason entered the game with just five points this season and 23 total in his career. Alvin Miles was in double figures for the 10th-straight game with 15 points. The loss drops Henderson to 16-11 overall and 12-9 in the GAC.
It was a cold start on the road for the Reddies, who hit on just one of their first eight shots from the floor and fell behind 21-11 at the nine-minute mark of the first half. Needing a spark, HSU found it in the form of Mason, who scored eight of Henderson's next 10 points — including two 3-pointers — to spur a 10-2 run and close the gap to 25-23 with 3:38 remaining in the opening period.
Tech stole some momentum back before the break by closing with a 9-4 spurt to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room. The Wonder Boys made six 3-pointers in the first half, including three from Caleb Kennedy.
ATU extended its lead to begin the second and took a 42-31 advantage at the 15:54 mark. Mason again provided the Reddies with an answer, as he scored seven points over the next three minutes to spark a 15-0 run which catapulted Henderson into the lead, 46-42, with 12:23 left. Mason, Quawn Marshall and Franck Kamgain all hit 3-pointers during the spurt.
After securing its first lead since the opening minutes, HSU was hit with a cold spell offensively. Over the next six minutes, Henderson shot just 1-of-9 from the floor and scored three points. Tech took advantage and put together a 17-3 run to regain a commanding 59-49 lead with 6:08 to play.
A basket from Yuri Swinford and two freebies from Miles helped Henderson begin to cut into the deficit, but a pair of 3-pointers from the Wonder Boys on the other end halted the Reddies' momentum and gave ATU a big 67-55 cushion with just over three minutes to go. The late double-digit deficit proved to be too much for HSU to overcome, as Tech pulled away for the win.
Henderson shot 41% in defeat and got 48 points from its bench. ATU out-rebounded the Reddies 35-31 and made 23 free throws compared to just eight for HSU.
The Reddies play their final game of the regular season tomorrow at 5 p.m. when they host Harding for Senior Night at the Duke Wells Center.
