[December 19, 2006]

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.

#SAU#