[December 4, 2006]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas University improved to 3-3 following a 71-44 win over Rust College (2-5) Monday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. In a game that was scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off, fans patiently waited for the visitors to arrive. Actual start time was 8:30 p.m.

The Muleriders led from the start, jumping out to a quick 11-3 lead at the 14:50 mark on two free throws by Cory Green before the Bearcats got a three-pointer by Darnell Toy and a free throw by Bobby Bardwell to narrow the SAU’s lead to four points, 11-7. Brandon Williams knocked down two three-pointers and Rolando Little dropped in a lay-up to put Southern Arkansas up by 12 at 21-9 with 9:28 to go in the half. The Muleriders stretched the lead to 19 points on a lay-up by Green and held a 35-16 advantage at the half.

SAU eventually went up by 25 points, 44-19, at the 14:54 mark following another three-pointer by Williams. Marc Phillips buried a three for RC to set the new score at 44-22 and then bombed another three-pointer to pull Rust to within 17 points, 44-27. From there, Southern Arkansas outscored the visitors 16-7 for a 60-34 margin with 6:20 left to play. A three-pointer by Caleb Winters gave the Muleriders their largest lead of the game at 70-40, 2:23 to play.

Williams led SAU with a game-high 18 points, all from downtown, finishing six of nine from the field and six of eight at the three-point line. Winters had 16 points, four assists, and four steals, and Leon Stone added 12 points, two blocked shots, and shared game-high rebound honors with Green with seven. Cameron Butler dished out four assists.

Phillips and Micheal Taylor led the Bearcats with 10 points each. Phillips was three of five from the field, including two of four from the arc, and hit both his free throws, while Taylor was four of seven, all two’s, from the field, and two of three at the charity stripe.

Southern Arkansas shot 49 percent (25-51) from the field, 52.4 percent (11-21) in threes, and 66.7 percent (10-15) on freebies.

Rust made 15 of 44 shots from the field for 34.1 percent, three of 14 behind the arc for an icy 21.4 percent, and 11 of 17 at the free throw line.

The Muleriders out-boarded the Bearcats, 34-26, and committed only 15 turnovers to 21 by the Bearcats, converting them into 24 points.

SAU, after three consecutive games at home, travels to Dallas Wednesday for a re-match with Dallas Baptist. The Patriots handed Southern Arkansas a 72-67 setback in Magnolia Thanksgiving weekend. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

#SAU#