Davis, Jones Lead Southern Arkansas past North Alabama
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Southern Arkansas University centers Kim Davis and Kayla Jones combined for 37 points and 27 rebounds Saturday in the West Florida Holiday Classic, leading the Lady Muleriders to a 67-52 win over the University of North Alabama at the West Florida Fieldhouse.
Davis, a senior, recorded her third consecutive double-double in as many games since joining the team at the semester break, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Jones, a freshman, picked up her career first (14 points, 13 rebounds) in lifting SAU (3-8) past the Lions (6-8). Southern Arkansas defeated West Florida, 56-53, on Friday to win the Classic with a 2-0 mark. UNA had ended Harding’s seven-game winning streak Friday with a 77-72 overtime win. Both Davis and Jones were selected to the All-Classic Team, with Davis being named the MVP.
North Alabama had no answer for the Lady Mulerider inside tandem, posting a short 3-2 lead before the duo took control. SAU got 15 combined points and rebounds from the two in building a 26-15 first half advantage before the Lions went on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 28-25 at the half.
That was short-lived, however, as Southern Arkansas rattled off a 17-4 spree in the first 5:21 of the second stanza to take a commanding 45-29 advantage. The lead would never fall below double-digits again with the Lady Muleriders eventually holding a 17-point margin twice, the last with 21 ticks left, 66-49. Brooke Grigsby’s free throw with six seconds remaining provided the final margin, and win.
SAU’s inside game has made a vast improvement since Davis’ return, relying less on outside shots and eating up the boards. Southern Arkansas outscored UNA, 32-22, in the middle, and got 25 second chance points to only five for North Alabama. The Lady Muleriders clobbered their opponent on the boards, 49-31, with 21 coming on the offensive end.
The SAU defense held the Lions to only 34 percent (17-50) shooting, including only four of 19 three-pointers for 21.1 percent. Southern Arkansas hit 26 of 63 for 41.3 percent, and was three of 11 beyond the arc for 27.3 percent. The Lady Muleriders were just 12 of 20 at the free throw line for 60 percent, while UNA knocked down 14 of 20 for 70 percent.
Davis was nine of 14 from the field, and hit her only three attempt and all four free throws in totaling her scoring. She’s now five of seven on three’s for the season and shooting at a 65.8 percent clip. Jones was six of 12 from the floor and two of six at the charity stripe. Davis had eight offensive boards, while Jones had six. Grigsby chipped in 12 points and was stingy on defense with a game-high five steals. Goldie White dished out a game-high four assists.
Amber Rutherford was the only player in double-figures for North Alabama with 10 points, and also grabbed eight rebounds. Jameica York and Tandra Inmon each finished with nine points.
SAU gets a seven-day break now before starting Gulf South Conference play next Saturday, hosting Christian Brothers in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. It will be the first home game for Southern Arkansas since December 18.
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Southern Arkansas’ Second Half Woes Continue
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Another slow second half start dropped Southern Arkansas University in a hole it couldn’t dig out of, as the Muleriders lost a 50-40 decision to Georgia College & State University Saturday at the Armstrong Atlantic State SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year Classic. Armstrong Atlantic State, which defeated SAU, 74-64, Friday, and Georgia College & State finished the Classic undefeated.
A malfunctioning hydraulic system on one of the goals delayed play in the SAU-GCSU contest, and eventually pushed the game to the Aquatics and Recreation Center – the old home of the Armstrong Atlantic men’s basketball team that had not seen a men’s college game competed in it since 1994-95.
The Bobcats (10-1) used their size advantage in gaining the victory, despite shooting just 26.8 percent from the floor. GCSU bombed Southern Arkansas on the boards, 50-31, and outscored the Muleriders on second chance points, off 25 offensive rebounds, 14-0. Still, SAU (5-7) hung in there against one of the toughest teams in the nation, trailing only 26-22 at the break.
Southern Arkansas held an 8-5 advantage on a Brandon Williams three with 15:59 left in the first half before a 10-2 run by Georgia College & State pushed them to a 15-10 lead at 10:19. Williams was back on the floor for the Muleriders after smashing heads with teammate Cory Green in Friday’s game. The two teams were nip and tuck the remainder of the half, with Rolando Little’s jumper pulling SAU to within one, 23-22, with 2:15 left. Shaun Keaton’s trey 16 ticks later set the margin at the break.
As has been the custom for the young team for most of the season, Southern Arkansas came out flat in the second frame, hitting one of its four field goal attempts, and watching the Bobcats go on a 9-2 run to stretch their margin to 35-24 with 15:18 on the clock. The Muleriders, who haven’t shown quit all year, responded with their own 9-2 spree, however, and were within four, 37-33, on another Williams’ trey at 9:08. But, GCSU regrouped and scored nine unanswered points for their largest lead of the game at 46-33, with 4:43 left in the contest. SAU couldn’t answer from there and Georgia College & State coasted to the low-scoring victory.
It was a dismal shooting performance by both teams – the Bobcats hitting only 15 of 56 shots, and Southern Arkansas just 15 of 45 for 33.3 percent. GCSU managed six of 20 from downtown for 30 percent, while the Muleriders were only five of 18 for 27.8 percent. SAU’s 20 personal fouls sent their opponent to the foul stripe for 24 attempts, but Georgia College & State converted only 14 for 58.3 percent, while Southern Arkansas was only five of 10.
Surprisingly, turnovers were low, the Muleriders committing only 11, while the Bobcats had 13.
Only two players from the game ended in double-figure scoring. Aaron Clark led GCSU with 14 points, while Little dumped in 12 for SAU. Levert Clark added eight points for Georgia College & State and pulled down a whopping 19 rebounds, including 11 offensive.
Williams finished with nine points for Southern Arkansas, while leading scorer Green was held to just five. Brandon Bealer pulled down six rebounds and served up nine assists in the game.
The Muleriders return home Thursday to host Ecclesia College, out of Springdale, for a final non-conference tune-up. SAU opens Gulf South Conference play Saturday, hosting Christian Brothers. Thursday’s tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
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SAU Surprises West Florida
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Sometimes a long layoff is just what the doctor ordered. Southern Arkansas University, playing for the first time in 11 days, jumped all over the University of West Florida, handing their host a 56-53 loss Friday in the West Florida Holiday Classic at the West Florida Field House.
The Lady Muleriders (2-8), getting their second win of the season and their first on the road, hadn’t seen action since suffering a 69-64 setback to Southeastern Oklahoma State on December 18 in Magnolia. SAU showed little rust, however, in giving the Argonauts (7-6) their second consecutive home loss on the season.
Southern Arkansas, behind the strong play of senior center Kim Davis, bolted out to a 14-0 advantage to begin the game. After a Goldie White free throw, and missing her first field goal attempt, Davis then banked in a lay-up and nailed two three-pointers for eight points in the opening run. Two free throws by Kayla Jones and a trey by White at 16:25 completed the fast start and gave the Lady Muleriders their largest advantage of the game.
UWF finally got on the board at 15:49 on a lay-up by Tara Russ, and pulled to within three, 25-22, on two Karmeshia Easley free throws at the 5:52 mark. But SAU, which never trailed in the game, responded with another Davis lay-up and two freebies from Brooke Grigsby to hold a 29-22 edge at the half.
Southern Arkansas stretched its lead to 11, at 38-27, with 15:22 left in the game when White hit one of two free throws. West Florida put together a 14-4 run though, and trailed by only one, 42-41, when Tiffany Scott’s three found the bottom of the net at 7:20. The Lady Muleriders stiffened for the rest of the way, holding a 56-50 lead with 1:04 remaining before an old-fashioned three-point play by Easley set the final margin.
Davis got her second double-double in as many games since joining the team at the break. She finished with game-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards, and blocked two shots. Davis was nine of 13 from the field, including three of four from beyond the arc, and hit one of two free throws. White added 15 points, and Jones chipped in 12 and eight rebounds. Grigsby dished out four assists and grabbed a game-high six steals. SAU is still without the services of senior forward Beth Grigsby, who has missed the last three games with an injury.
Laura Davis was the only Argonaut in double-figure scoring, putting up 11 on four of 10 shooting, three of five from downtown. Easley and Samantha Schlaegel posted nine points each, and Schlaegel also pulled down nine boards.
Southern Arkansas shot just 39.6 percent (21-53) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-12) on a season-low 12 attempts on threes, and was only 10 of 18 on free throws for 55.6 percent. The Lady Muleriders’ stingy defense held UWF to 32.7 percent (17-52) shooting, including six of 20 treys for 30 percent. West Florida hit 13 of 15 from the charity stripe for 86.7 percent.
Although the teams battled evenly on the boards, each grabbing 35 rebounds, SAU’s size inside was a big difference in the game, providing a 26-16 advantage in points in the middle, including a 14-2 advantage on second chance points. Southern Arkansas committed 20 turnovers while forcing 23 from their opponent.
The Lady Muleriders play their final game of the classic Saturday, taking on North Alabama at 1 p.m.
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Fouls, Second Half Lull Doom Muleriders
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Southern Arkansas University committed a season-high 29 personal fouls which led to 44 Armstrong Atlantic State University free throw attempts, 29 of which they converted en route to a 74-64 win Friday in the Armstrong Atlantic State SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year Classic at Alumni Arena. Conversely, the Pirates (8-2) were whistled for 24 fouls, providing the Muleriders (5-6) only 31 freebies, connecting on 20.
That, and a sluggish second half start by SAU, in which AASU went on a 23-6 run, let Armstrong Atlantic gain control of the contest.
Brandon Bealer’s three-pointer at 12:03 in the first half gave Southern Arkansas a 14-8 lead, but after Patrick Sanou’s free throw cut the Pirate deficit to five, AASU went on to hit five consecutive treys for a 26-21 advantage with 4:30 remaining. The Muleriders’ last lead of the game, 18-17, came on a three-pointer by Reggie Tims with 5:54 left. Armstrong Atlantic built it to an eight-point advantage, 29-21, on two free throws by Bryan Taylor, before a Cory Green freebie and Brandon Williams’ jumper trimmed the SAU deficit to 29-24 at the half.
AASU’s opening second half spurt provided them with a 52-30 spread with 12:08 remaining. At the start of that run, Southern Arkansas lost both Green and Williams when they collided and banged heads. Green would later return, while Williams did not. After the Muleriders were called for their ninth team foul of the half at 14:07, SAU Coach Eric Bozeman even got in on the action, being hit with his first technical foul of the year on the questionable call.
Bozeman, who rarely gets blown for the “T”, suffered just his first in two years, and stated, “Sometimes you just have to fight for your players.”
Armstrong Atlantic eventually pushed its lead to 23 points twice, the last at 9:07 when they went up 58-35 on two free throws by Josh Geyer. From that point, Southern Arkansas made a remarkable comeback, putting together a 19-9 run which left them down 67-54 with 2:36 left. The Muleriders eventually cut it to single digits, 73-64, but with only seven ticks left on the clock.
The Pirates used a balanced scoring attack with Sanou’s 14 points leading 12 AASU players who found the scoring column. Sanou attempted only three field goals, hitting all, but got most of his points at the charity stripe, knocking down eight of 12. He grabbed six rebounds, blocked one shot, and grabbed one steal in his 23 minutes of play. Taylor and Jamaal Galloway finished with nine points each, and Geyer and William Kane chipped in eight apiece. Taylor and Franchot Brown both had game-highs of seven boards.
SAU had three in double-digit scoring, led by Bealer’s 14. In 28 minutes of action he was four of 10 from the field, including one of four from downtown, and hit five of eight from the stripe. Green and Tims added 10 points each. Chris Montgomery and Ndubuisi Egwuatu both pulled down five rebounds.
After a chilly first half, Armstrong Atlantic hit nine of 16 shots (56.3 percent) in the second stanza to finish 19 of 47 for the game for 40.4 percent. The Pirates were seven of 18 on treys for 38.9 percent, and their 29 of 44 free throws netted them 65.9 percent. Southern Arkansas shot only 19 of 54 (35.2 percent) in the game, including just six of 24 three-pointers for 25 percent, and hit at a 64.5 percent clip from the free throw line.
AASU had a huge advantage on the boards, 44-27, but had 18 turnovers to the Muleriders’ 14.
SAU continues play in the Classic on Saturday, taking on Georgia College & State University at 1 p.m. central.
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Southern Arkansas “Shoots” past North Alabama
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University’s hot shooting and a balanced scoring attack paved the way to a 79-64 decision over the University of North Alabama Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. The Muleriders (5-5) avenged a 94-70 setback to the Lions (6-7) exactly a month ago in Florence, Ala.
SAU jumped out to a 4-0 advantage on a pair of lay-ups by Cory Green and never trailed in the game. UNA’s Milton Nance hit a three-pointer to make it 4-3, but that was as close as the visitors would get all night.
Southern Arkansas was on fire in the first half, hitting 17 of 30 shots for 56.7 percent, including bombing seven of 11 from downtown for 63.6 percent. Brandon Williams knocked down three of four from beyond the arc to lead the Mulerider surge that pushed them to a 42-34 halftime advantage. Southern Arkansas held an 11-point lead before Quinn Beckwith’s three set the margin at the break.
North Alabama bounced back in the second stanza with a 6-0 run to trim their deficit to four, 46-42, at the 10:07 mark, but the Muleriders rattled off eight unanswered points to take a 54-42 advantage on another three by Williams with 8:35 remaining. SAU gradually pulled away and got their biggest lead of the night at 18 points, 79-61, on Green’s two free throws with 13 ticks left before another Milton trey ended the scoring.
As hot as Southern Arkansas was from the three-point line, the Lions were just as cold. UNA came into the game shooting 39 percent on 277 attempts, but hit six of 16 in the first half and only three of 19 in the second, to finish nine of 35 for the game for a dismal 25.7 percent. North Alabama had just 67 shot attempts in the game, with only 32 being deuces.
The Muleriders had everyone in on the scoring action with six players finishing in double-figures. Brandon Bealer led the charge with 16 points, hitting only three of his 10 tries, and one of three treys, but he canned nine of 10 free throws. Williams dumped in 15 points, knocking down five of eight from beyond the arc, and missing his only two attempt. Green, Rolando Little, Leon Stone, and Caleb Winters rounded out the double-digit scorers, all chipping in 11 points each. Stone finished with a double-double in pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Bealer and Little both had eight boards, and Green dished out four assists.
Beckwith and Nance were the Lions the visitors rode, combining for 39 shots between the two, 30 of them from downtown. No other UNA player had more than eight shot attempts. Beckwith came into the game having shot 128 three-point attempts in 12 games for 38.3 percent, and Nance had 90 in 11 games for 44.4 percent, but SAU’s perimeter defense stifled them for most of the night. Beckwith did have game-high honors with 17 points, but was held to five of 16 shooting, all threes, and hit his only two free throws. Nance poured in 15 points, but was just six of 23 from the field, including only three of 14 treys.
Esmir Guzonjic grabbed seven rebounds and had three blocked shots for North Alabama, and Kenny Johnson had six assists.
Southern Arkansas finished 27 of 54 from the field and was 10 of 20 on threes, good for 50 percent, and was 15 of 19 at the charity stripe for 78.9 percent.
The Lions were 24 of 67 shooting overall for 35.8 percent, and hit seven of 11 freebies for 63.6 percent.
The Muleriders held a 40-33 rebound advantage, and finished with 14 turnovers to UNA’s 12.
SAU gets an eight-day break for the holidays before traveling to Savannah, Ga., December 29-30, for the Armstrong Atlantic State New Year’s Classic. Southern Arkansas will face their host on that Friday at 6 p.m., before taking on Georgia College & State the next day at 2 p.m. The Muleriders return home on January 4 for a 7 p.m. tip-off against Ecclesia College out of Springdale.
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Muleriders Tame Central Baptist
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University got a career-high 24 points out of junior forward Brandon Williams and handed Central Baptist College an 81-46 defeat Tuesday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. The Muleriders move to 4-5 on the season, while the outmanned Mustangs fell to 1-14.
Trailing 13-9 with 9:36 left in the first half, SAU used a 31-9 spree for a 40-22 halftime advantage and effectively put the game away.
Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 7-0 start before CBC whittled away and took their first lead at 10-9 on a lay-up by Daron Hall at 10:19 of the first half. That lasted all of 43 ticks before Williams hit two consecutive threes to start the Mulerider rampage. SAU had missed its first six trey attempts up to that point, but knocked down two more after Williams’, finishing seven of 10 in that first half span.
After Ryan Barnes’ opening second half lay-up cut it to 40-24, it only got uglier for the visitors. Southern Arkansas let it get no closer the rest of the way, eventually building a 38-point advantage with 45 seconds left before settling for the final margin.
Williams was eight for 14 from the field, including six of 10 from beyond the arc, and hit his only two free throws in racking up his career best. Playing a total of 30 minutes, he also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked one shot, and had one steal. The Muleriders had three others score in double figures, including season-highs from Brandon Bealer with 16, and 12 from Rolando Little. Cory Green chipped in 10. Big Leon Stone pulled down a game-high 12 boards, Bealer and Reggie Tims served up five assists each, and Little and Sims grabbed two steals. SAU totaled five blocked shots in the game.
Central Baptist’s lone scorer in double-digits was Marcus White with 12. Jay Best had seven points and finished with nine rebounds. Former Mulerider Trad Williams, who played his freshman season at SAU in 2004-05, played 37 minutes, but was only one of four for the game and finished with three points.
Southern Arkansas held a 40-29 rebound advantage, outscored their opponent 30-10 on the inside, and collected 21 points off 18 Mustang turnovers. The Muleriders had just 11 turnovers in the contest.
SAU shot a hot 50.8 percent (31-61) from the field, including 13 of 29 three-pointers for a very respectable 44.8 percent, and was six of 10 from the charity stripe for 60 percent.
CBC hit only 15 of 48 field goals for 31.3 percent, was eight of 26 on threes for 30.8 percent, and was only half good at the free throw line, hitting eight of 16.
Coming off a nine-day layoff, Southern Arkansas will now rest one day before hosting Gulf South Conference East Division member North Alabama on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Lions handed the Muleriders a 94-70 setback on November 21 in Florence, Ala.
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Lady Muleriders Swept by Southeastern Oklahoma State
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University completed a season sweep over Southern Arkansas University Monday, winning 69-64 at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. The Lady Muleriders (1-8) lost their season-opener, 66-57, to the Savage Storm (8-1) in Durant.
Down by one at 65-64, SAU got off only one shot, a missed three-pointer, and turned the ball over their only other possession in the last 1:34 of the game. Lay-ups by Vivi Nascimento and Ashley Tucker sealed it for SOSU.
The game marked the return of Southern Arkansas senior center Kim Davis, playing in her first contest since December 9 of last year. Davis showed little rust, picking up a double-double, the 29th of her career, with a team-leading 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. She also got help from another newcomer at the semester break, 6-0 senior forward Cassandra Henry (Northwest Mississippi College), who added eight points and seven boards.
But it wasn’t enough, as the Lady Muleriders committed 25 turnovers which Southeastern Oklahoma converted into 23 points. Free throws were crucial also, as SAU hit only four of 12 in the first half, before hitting a sharp 12 of 13 in the second stanza.
After trailing early by three at 5-2, Southern Arkansas went on a 22-8 run over a 10:10 span to take a commanding 24-13 lead on a three-pointer by Davis with 8:07 left in the first half. That quickly evaporated though, as the Savage Storm roared back with a 23-5 run of its own to take a 31-29 advantage at the break. The Lady Muleriders hit only one of eight shots in that span, and just three of eight free throws.
Jessica Hocker gave SOSU a five-point spread, 41-36, in the second half on a pair of free throws at 15:25, but SAU fought back with a 13-5 run to take a 49-46 lead on two free throws by Brooke Grigsby with 10:20 remaining. That would be the last Southern Arkansas lead though, and after the teams knotted up at 53-53 for the 10th tie of the game, Southeastern Oklahoma eventually built eight-point leads twice, before settling for the five-point margin.
The Savage Storm got a game-high 21 points out of Lora Loy, who was eight of 14 from the field, including five of seven from downtown. Hocker added 15 points, 11 of those from the free throw line, and Nascimento chipped in 11. Tucker grabbed seven rebounds, while Hocker pulled down six. Staci Willis dished out three assists, and Loy had three steals.
Davis was seven of 11 shooting, one of two on three’s, and five of six at the charity stripe for her 20 points. Goldie White added 14 points for the Lady Muleriders, and Grigsby contributed 11 and seven rebounds. Grigsby and White both tossed out three assists, and White added three steals. It was the second consecutive game for SAU without the services of senior forward Beth Grigsby, who’s nursing an injury.
SOSU was a dismal 28.1 percent (9-32) from the field in the first half, but warmed up in the second (45.2 percent) to finish at 36.5 percent (23-63) for the game. They were seven of 15 beyond the arc for 46.7 percent, and hit 16 of 21 free throws for 76.2 percent.
Southern Arkansas was 22 of 54 for 40.7 percent, including four of 13 treys for 30.8 percent, and hit 16 of 25 freebies for 64.0 percent.
Led by Davis’ 15, the Lady Muleriders held a 43-38 rebound advantage, but paid in turnovers with their 25, compared to 16 for their visitors.
The contest was the first for Southern Arkansas in nine days because of semester tests, and they’ll now have an 11 day layoff for the Christmas holidays before traveling to Pensacola, Fla., to compete in the West Florida Holiday Classic, December 29-30. The Lady Muleriders will face host West Florida on that Friday at 3 p.m., and will take on North Alabama the following day at 1 p.m. SAU returns home to open Gulf South Conference play against Christian Brothers on January 6.
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