RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., - Arkansas Tech opened the game with a 16-2 run and never trailed during an 88-73 home victory over the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team Saturday evening at Tucker Coliseum on the ATU campus. The win kept the 14th-ranked Wonder Boys undefeated on the year at 7-0. With the loss, UNA dropped to 3-4 on the season.

Brandon Friedel led all scorers with 27 points and four other ATU players reached double digits in scoring on the night. Jared Strode led UNA with 26 points.

A three-point basketball by Friedel gave ATU the early 14-point advantage just over six minutes into the game. The Wonder Boys led by as many as 19 in the opening 20 minutes before UNA closed the half on a 20-10 run to head to the locker room down 43-34.

In the second half, Tech could not pull away, but kept the Lions from making a run to challenge the lead. A free throw by the Lions’ Rory Miller cut the deficit to five at 67-62 with 6:26 remaining, but UNA would get no closer. The Wonder Boys answered with an 11-3 run to stretch the lead back to double digits and UNA never threatened again.

Miller finished with 15 points for the Lions while Jacobe Shannon and Brett Jackson added 10 points each.

North Alabama will play at Miles Tuesday evening. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Birmingham.