RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - You can argue that Arkansas Tech's record coming into their home contest against No. 15/19 Southern Nazarene was "fool's gold." 

But no one quite saw this coming.

Playing only their third game on their home floor, the Wonder Boys were red hot from the field to build a lead and held off any SNU rally as they picked up an 85-74 win over the Crimson Storm, earning their first win GAC play.

For SNU, they fall to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in the GAC. 

Arkansas Tech shot 48% from the field and connected on 12 shots from beyond the arc. At one point, the Wonder Boys were shooting 50% midway through the second half. SNU was 31 of 72 (43%) from the field and only 4 of 22 (18%) from deep. The Crimson Storm also struggled at the line, going 8 of 16 (50%) from the charity stripe.

The Crimson Storm had the early 8-4 lead early on behind a three from Micah Speight and a 3-point play from Noah Starkey. However, nine straight points, all on 3-pointers, gave Tech a 13-8 lead. The Wonder Boys built a lead out to 24-16 as they were red hot from the field, shooting over 60% from both the field and behind the arc midway through the half.

SNU chipped away and got it back within two, but it would be the story of the entire night. Everytime the Crimson Storm were ready to even the game or even push ahead, Arkansas Tech had a response on the offensive end and pushed the lead back out. 

In this case, the Wonder Boys heated up from the field and pushed their lead to nine, closing the half strong and taking a 43-34 lead at the break.

In the second half, Arkansas Tech did not cool off, pushing their lead to as many as 14 points with 12:44 to play in the contest. SNU responded with a 9-0 run to cut it to five at 65-60 with under nine minutes to play.

SNU finally cooled off Tech enough to get the game down to one at 67-65 with 5:41 to play as it looked like the Crimson Storm may take control of the game.

However, Arkansas Tech hit big shot after big shot while also getting it done at the free throw line to get the lead back out to nine. Leading scorer Jhonathan Dunn fouled out with 4:41 to play and the Wonder Boys took advantage, closing the game out as SNU went cold and taking the 85-74 victory.

RJ Palmer finished with 21 points on 10 of 13 shooting off the bench with seven boards while Starkey had 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting to go with eight boards. Speight added 11 points and seven boards while Dunn had nine points, seven rebounds, and two steals. 

Will Adler led Tech with 20 points including four made 3-pointers while Ramses Sandifer added 19 points and three made 3-pointers. R.J. Glasper scored 18 points to go with seven assists and six boards while Alex Brown and Freddy Lee each had 11 points.

The Crimson Storm will look to rebound on Saturday as they head to Searcy to take on Harding beginning at 3 PM.