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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – In Henderson State's final home game of 2023, the Reddies will welcome Arkansas Tech to the Duke Wells Center Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. The day's contests will also play host to Henderson's annual Angel Tree Toy Drive.
 
REDDIES REPORT (2-3, 1-1 GAC)
Its last time on the hardwood, Henderson State gained its first conference victory after recording its largest win over Arkansas-Monticello in GAC history, 90-59. Clarence King (24) and Zyon Patterson (22) combined for 46 points on 19-of-34 (56.8%) shooting. After scoring just three points in the opener, King has scored in double figures in HSU's last four games. Similarly, Malek Davis has picked it up after game one, averaging 14.3 points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the last four contests.
 
The recent added scoring from King and Davis, along with Patterson's team-leading 14.8 points per game, has Henderson St. second in the league with 79.4 points per game while Arkansas Tech is third with 78.6 points. The red-and-gray are 2-0 this season when scoring over 70 points while being 0-3 when scoring fewer than 70. The Reddies are also only allowing 67.2 points for third in the GAC whereas ATU is eighth with 72.1 points.
 
Despite being top three in the league in scoring offense, scoring defense, field-goal percentage, opponent field-goal percentage, opponent three-point percentage and turnover margin, Henderson's struggles have come from having a difficult time getting to the free-throw line while simultaneously sending its counterparts to the charity stripe. The Reddies have shot 85 free-throws this season, which is the second fewest in the league, while their opposition has attempted 104 freebies for the fourth highest such discrepancy in the conference. The three teams with a worse mark are all 0-2 in league play.
 
Saturday will be the 176th all-time meeting between Henderson St. and Arkansas Tech with HSU leading the overall series, 92-83. The Reddies have won six of the last seven at home against the Wonder Boys, including last season's 81-61 victory. The red-and-gray put on a shooting clinic that day, making 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the floor, including 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from three, while also connecting on all nine free-throws.
 
SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH (5-2, 2-0 GAC)
After mirroring Henderson State's start to the season with a pair of losses, Arkansas Tech has since rattled off five straight wins, including defeating Ouachita Baptist 85-50 to improve to 2-0 in conference play. During that win streak, ATU has scored at least 80 points four times and three of those five victories have come by single digits, including an 87-81 triumph over Arkansas-Monticello.
 
Junior guard Taelon Peter was named the D2CIDA National Division II Player of the Week for his efforts against Monticello and Ouachita Baptist. Peter averaged 30.5 points per game across the two contests as he has now scored 20 or more in four of ATU's seven games this season. The reigning GAC Player of the Week is second in the conference with 21.0 points per game and has the third best three-point field-goal percentage (50%) of anyone in the league with at least 20 attempts.
 
Behind Peter, fellow junior guard Kade Shaffer is shooting 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from deep as the Wonder Boys' shooting duo has Tech as the best three-point shooting team in the league at 41.7 percent. On the flip side, Henderson State is the top defense in opponent three-point percentage at 27.3 percent. Arkansas Tech has made at least nine three-pointers in each of its last six games while shooting 45.0 percent or better in four of those outings.
 
ANGEL TREE TOY DRIVE
Henderson State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will partner with the Junior Auxiliary (JA) of Arkadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 9 for its annual Angel Tree game, providing fans the opportunity to give back at the holiday season and watch the Reddies' conference doubleheader against rival Arkansas Tech for free.

Fans are encouraged to bring a toy donation in exchange for FREE ENTRY to both women's and men's contests at the Duke Wells Center.