MBB GAME NOTES: VERSUS ARKANSAS TECH FEBRUARY 27, 2025

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Following the two biggest wins of the season for Henderson State the Reddies set their eyes on a Wonder Boys team sitting just outside of the conference tournament.
 
With wins over Oklahoma Baptist and #20 Southern Nazarene the Reddies have won three in a row rolling into the final two games of the season. Having already clinched the conference tournament Jimmy Elgas and his squad look to remain hot going into the tournament.
 
It was execution down the stretch that helped the Reddies roll past the Bison and Crimson Storm. The Reddies defeated the Bison by one point and the Crimson Storm by four points in overtime on the back of star freshman Rondae Hill. Hill won GAC Player of the Week for his performance last week, averaging 28.5 ppg and 3.5 assists versus two of the top teams in the conference. Hill is the first freshman to win the award since 2022 and now holds the two best scoring games by a freshman during conference play this season.
 
In the last meeting between the two teams the Reddies dominated, winning 75-61. Matthew Mayes led the Reddies with 19 points, five rebounds and five steals on 8-15 shooting from the field. The Reddies beat up the Wonder Boys in the paint, scoring 44 points in the paint to just 28 and outscoring the Wonder Boys by 16 on points off turnovers.
 
Henderson State currently sits at third in the conference in offense during conference play and is second in the conference in opponent turnovers against per game (13.6). Henderson State currently leads the conference in offensive rebounds (11.1).
 
The Reddies sit alone in fifth place in the conference with just two games remaining.
 
Following a season in which Arkansas Tech won the conference regular season and tournament the Wonder Boys have had an underwhelming season. The Wonder Boys currently sit at 10^th in the conference with an overall record of 10-16 and 7-13 in conference play.
 
ATU is led by Cassius Brooks who leads the team in points per game. Brooks is currently averaging 18.8 ppg on 37.4 percent shooting from the field and 26.5 percent from deep. Brooks is second in the conference in steals per game during conference play with 1.8 spg. Brooks is fourth in the conference in scoring during conference play.
 
Arkansas Tech leads the conference in defense, allowing just 65.8 ppg but sits at 11^th in the conference in offense, scoring just 63.4 ppg. Arkansas Tech is ninth in the conference in scoring margin, being outscored by 2.4 ppg.
 
Defensively ATU leads the conference in field percentage allowed, forcing opponents to shoot just 42.5 percent from the field but are shooting just 42.4 percent from the field themselves. Henderson State shot the third best percentage from the field against the Wonder Boys (52.5) this season.
 
Players to Watch:
 
Jamarion Brown won GAC Defensive Player of the Year after posting a +25 +/- between two games. Brown has continued to be the glue guy for the Reddies, versus the Crimson Storm Brown posted four steals.
 
Rondae Hill has been on a burner in recent weeks, scoring in double digits in his last seven games and averaging 28.5 ppg in his past two outings. Hill has named GAC Player of the Week this week, the first Reddie player to be named GAC Player of the Week this season (Henderson State has had three different players named GAC Defensive Player of the Week).
 
The Reddies matchup versus the Wonder Boys tips off on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with senior night festivities being held before the game.