[November 19, 2007]

Contact: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas overcame first half struggles to down Champion Baptist College, 88-66, Monday in a rare 11:45 a.m. tip-off at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

The early day game was a part of the men’s program’s season-long “Mulerider Madness” theme. SAU played before an overflow crowd of 1,911 fans, the majority of which were students from area schools.

Southern Arkansas (2-0) defeated the Tigers last year, 89-35, but saw a little different opponent Monday. Add to that the number of newcomers on this year’s squad and the fact that Mulerider coach Eric Bozeman is still experimenting with the correct floor combinations and you have part of the reason for the slow beginning against CBC.

SAU shot just 36.4 percent (12-33) from the field in the first half, including nothing on six three-point attempts, as Champion Baptist jumped out to an 8-2 advantage in the first 3:18 for what would be their largest lead of the game. Southern Arkansas matched them at 15:32 on a jumper from David Noble, and took a 10-8 margin on Mori Turpin’s lay-up 16 seconds later. Champion Baptist reclaimed the lead at 14:43 on a trey from Mark Harper and held the advantage until Channin Harden’s jumper put the Muleriders up 27-25 with 6:16 remaining. SAU wouldn’t trail again as they ran it to a 10-point margin, 38-28, at 1:56, before settling for a 38-32 edge at the break.

Xavier Singleton’s shot from beyond the arc cut the deficit to 40-37 early in the second frame, but Southern Arkansas used a 9-2 run from there for a 49-39 margin and led by double-digits the rest of the way. The Muleriders eventually led by as much as 25 points with 10 ticks left before Tim Likins’ three at the buzzer provided the final margin.

SAU rebounded to shoot 55.9 percent (19-34) in the second stanza to finish at 46.3 percent (31-67) for the game. They only connected on one of 13 from downtown, but made up for it at the free throw line where they canned 25 of 31 (80.6).

While Southern Arkansas was struggling early, the Tigers (1-8) hit 11 of 22 in the first half, including four of eight three-pointers. They cooled off some in the second frame (15-34) to finish 26 of 56 (46.4). The Muleriders’ advantage at the stripe was huge as CBC had only 15 attempts, making just six for 40 percent.

Harden, a true freshman from Marianna (Lee HS), scored a game-high 27 points in only 23 minutes of action. He was 11 of 16 from the floor, hit all five of his free throws, and added two assists and a steal. Justin Stuart chipped in 15 points, Noble had 13, and Scotty Lott finished with 10. Brandon Williams led SAU with nine rebounds.

Champion Baptist’s bookends of Tim and Marc Likins were their only double-figure scorers. The brothers combined for 29 points with Tim getting 15 and Marc 14. Harper shared game-high honors with Southern Arkansas’ Williams, pulling down nine boards.

The Muleriders’ 2-0 start on the season is their first in five years. SAU last won their opening two games in the 2002-03 season when they defeated East Central (Okla.) and St. Edward’s (Texas). Southern Arkansas travels to Florence, Ala., Saturday to face North Alabama. Tip-off for that game has changed from 3 to 6 p.m.