Muleriders Hold off Central Baptist
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas (5-6) finally shook off the rust to hold on for an 80-64 win over Central Baptist College (10-7) Tuesday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
The Muleriders hadn’t seen action in 17 days since December 13 while 
on Christmas break and it showed as they let a 44-33 halftime lead slip away. The Mustangs started the second half with a 16-5 spurt to knot it 49-49 on Trad Williams’ lay-up at 14:24. Sophomore guard David Noble answered right back with a trey to put SAU on top for good as they edged out for a five-point advantage. But CBC was within 56-55 on Michael Holder’s lay-up at 11:01 before Southern Arkansas made an 11-1 run to pull away. Sophomore forward Justin Stuart’s dunk and Noble’s free throw at the end gave the Muleriders their largest margin of the game and the final score.
Central Baptist held an 18-13 lead on Ryan Barnes’ jumper at 11:45 in the first frame. SAU raced back from that and was up 44-31 before Rodderick Briggs’ two freebies set the score at the half.
Stuart and red-shirt freshman guard Cory Clark combined for 42 points, each hitting for 21, to lead Southern Arkansas. Stuart was 10 of 16 from the floor and hit his only free throw, while Clark drained 6 of 11
from beyond the arc and was 3 of 5 at the line. Stuart picked up his second double-double of the season in grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds. He also had three assists and two blocked shots in 40 minutes of play.
Noble chipped in 10 points and dished out a game-high five assists.
The Muleriders shot a respectable 48.3 percent for the game in hitting 28 of 58, including canning 17 of 33 (51.5) in the first half. They were 7 of 17 (41.2) on three-pointers, and 17 of 25 (68.0) at the free throw line. The Mustangs finished 21 of 53 (39.6), 4 of 16 (25.0) and 18 of 27 (66.7).
Barnes led all scorers with 23 points, connecting on 6 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 5 treys, and converted on all eight from the charity stripe, and had a team-high six rebounds. Holder and Dominic Brewer added 11 points apiece.
Williams, who played his freshman season at SAU in 2004-05, finished with four points and four boards.
Southern Arkansas came up big on the glass, holding a 42-27 advantage. Each team suffered 19 turnovers.
The Muleriders are off until Monday when they host LeTourneau (Texas) at 7 p.m. in their final warm-up before Gulf South Conference action begins on January 10 against Arkansas Tech.
Photos courtesy of Bill and Lynne Nielsen
Southern Arkansa Rallies past West Florida
By: Houston Taylor
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Southern Arkansas overcame a nine-point second half deficit to rally past host West Florida, 55-52, Monday in the West Florida Holiday Classic at the UWF Fieldhouse.
Trailing 37-28 with 12:58 remaining, the Lady Muleriders put together a 14-5 run over a five minute span to knot it 42-42 at 7:54 in the game’s eighth tie. A jumper by senior guard Shanaye Davis evened it and senior center Crystal Kirk’s lay-up a minute later pushed SAU ahead for good as they rolled out to a 50-43 advantage with 3:55 left. Jessica Young’s lay-up pulled the Argonauts to within 52-50 at the two-minute mark, but Southern Arkansas hit five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the win. It was the Lady Muleriders’ (6-6) second three-point win over UWF (5-8) this season.
SAU held a 14-12 margin at 8:50 in the first, but West Florida pulled away for a 24-20 lead at the break. Neither team led by more than two points in the first half until Krissy Diggs and Tiffany Williams gave West Florida a 22-16 edge at 4:24. Southern Arkansas’ first half lead disappeared at 8:18 and they didn’t get back on top until Kirk’s lay-up at 6:59 of the second.
Junior guard Goldie White put up a game-high 17 points in leading the Lady Muleriders, and freshman center Kmaria Hobbs posted her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kirk added 11 points and grabbed seven boards.
Both teams exhibited the effects of the holiday lay-off with poor shooting performances. SAU was 20 of 59 from the floor for 33.9 percent, including 5 of 16 (31.3) treys, while the Argos hit 21 of 65 (32.3) and 1 of 8 (12.5). Southern Arkansas was 10 of 15 (66.7) at the free throw line, while UWF connected on 9 of 11 (81.8).
Dominique Boykins was West Florida’s only player in double-figures, scoring 14 points, while Young pulled down an eye-popping 19 rebounds, including 11 offensive.
Behind Young, UWF held a 46-40 rebound advantage, but committed 18 turnovers to the Lady Muleriders’ 15.
SAU won a 70-67 decision over West Florida in the Delta State Margaret Wade Memorial Classic on November 22.
Southern Arkansas continues play in the Holiday Classic Tuesday, facing West Alabama at 4 p.m.
Muleriders’ Dauenhauer Honored by Little Rock Touchdown Club
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas linebacker Steven Dauenhauer will be honored January 10 at the fifth annual Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock.
Dauenhauer is one of 11 state collegiate football players selected to 
represent their universities as most valuable players, and one of 28 individuals to be recognized at the banquet. Defensive back C.J. Ellis was the Mulerider honoree at last year’s gala, while other former SAU honorees were defensive back Demarea Caldwell in 2006, running back D.D. Holyfield in 2005, and linebacker Keenan Washington in 2004.
Dauenhauer (6-1, 215, Sr., Waveland, Miss./Pearl River (Miss.) College) was a Second Team All-Gulf South Conference selection this season. He led the squad and was fourth in the Gulf South Conference and 25th in Division II in forced fumbles per game (0.3). Dauenhauer anchored the Mulerider defense that was second in the GSC and 18th nationally against the run, allowing opponents just 96.8 yards rushing per contest. His 50 total tackles and 38 unassisted tackles were second on this year’s team. Dauenhauer had 4.5 tackles for 16 yards in loss, including one sack for minus three, had two quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one blocked kick.
Also honored at the banquet are players and coaches of the year at every high school classification. This year’s collegiate National Player of the Year honoree is Texas quarterback Colt McCoy; Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and LSU defensive end Glenn Dorsey are the SEC offensive and defensive player honorees; and Alabama’s Nick Saban is the SEC Coach of the Year. Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick will receive the annual Paul Eells Award.
The annual banquet starts at 7 p.m., with individual tickets selling for $35 and $350 for a table of 10. Other banquet and ticket information can be found at the club’s website: www.lrtouchdown.com.
SAU Holds off Newman, 56-52
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Junior guard Goldie White’s old-fashioned three-point play broke a 49-49 deadlock with 29 seconds left and Southern Arkansas hit five consecutive free throws down the stretch to pull out a 56-52 win over visiting Newman (Kan.) Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
The Lady Muleriders (5-6) let a 10-point advantage (47-37) with 8:36 remaining get away from them as the Lady Jets (2-8) rattled off a 12-2 run to knot it on Ashley Hanson’s only basket of the night, a lay-up at the 1:29 mark. SAU managed to regroup, as White hit a jumper, drew a foul on Diana Santillan, and hit the freebie for the three-point play and a 52-49 lead. Junior forward Shardae Thompson and White then knocked down four consecutive free throws in sealing the win. Hadley Freeman’s long-range bomb at the buzzer provided the final margin.
Southern Arkansas’ 10-point margin was their largest lead of the game after holding a 22-14 advantage with 5:33 left in the first half. But Newman overcame that too, evening it at 26-26 at 1:08 on another Freeman three-pointer. White drew a foul at the first half buzzer and connected on both free throws for a 28-26 Lady Mulerider lead at the break.
White led all players with 20 points, including hitting all nine of her free throws. She was 5 of 15 from the floor with one trey. White also shared game-high honors with Thompson in pulling down eight rebounds, dished out three assists, had four steals, and suffered just one turnover in 39 minutes of play.
Neither team shot well, with SAU connecting on 20 of 56 for 35.7 percent, and the Lady Jets hitting 20 of 51 (39.2). Southern Arkansas was 4 of 13 (30.8) on treys and 12 of 14 (85.7) at the free throw line, while Newman canned 7 of 14 from downtown and was perfect in five attempts at the line.
Playing in her first action of the season, junior center Crystal Kirk (6-2, Lonoke/Arkansas State) was the only other Lady Mulerider in double figure points, scoring 10. Freshman center Kmaria Hobbs, back in action after missing the previous two games due to her grandfather’s death, was held to just four points and two rebounds. Averaging 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds coming into the game, it was her first without scoring in double digits.
The Lady Jets used a total of 14 players in the contest, getting a team-high 13 points from Rainey Nickel and seven rebounds from Edan Townley.
SAU held a 36-33 rebound advantage and forced 17 turnovers while committing 12.
With its fifth win of the year, Southern Arkansas has now equaled its season total from a year ago. They have a 10-day break over the Christmas holiday before participating in the West Florida Holiday Classic in Pensacola December 29-30 against West Florida and West Alabama.
Alabama-Huntsville pulls away from Southern Arkansas
By: Houston Taylor
SEARCY, Ark. – In a game of runs, Alabama-Huntsville had the last one and pulled away for a 71-54 victory over Southern Arkansas Saturday in the Harding Classic at Rhodes Field House.
The Muleriders (4-6) battled back from 14-point deficits twice in the first half for a 37-36 lead at 16:41 in the second frame on two free throws from sophomore forward Justin Stuart. But three-pointers from the Chargers’ Jordan Brewer, Casey Stafford and Kael Coleman, who combined for eight treys and 50 points, propelled UAH up for good as they held SAU off down the stretch.
Coleman’s three gave Alabama-Huntsville (4-4) a 47-39 advantage at 12:35 and Southern Arkansas would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way, the last coming at 6:33 on a lay-up from Stuart that made it 53-46. The Chargers rattled off nine unanswered points from there and then held a 65-48 margin at 2:34 as they rolled on to the win.
The Muleriders were down 34-20 at 2:32 in the first, but used an 11-0 run in closing out the half to trail 34-31.
UAH knocked down 11 of 24 from beyond the arc at a 45.8 percent clip, which proved to be the difference in the game. SAU was only 1 of 13 (7.7) from the same range. Brewer, Stafford and Coleman combined to connect on 8 of 17 of those, with Stafford hitting 4 of 8 to lead Alabama-Huntsville with 18 points. He also had team-highs of six rebounds and four steals. Brewer had 17 points, and Coleman finished with 15 and a game-high six assists.
Southern Arkansas hit 12 of 24 from the floor in the first half, but again struggled in the second stanza with just 8 of 24 (33.3) to finish 20 of 48 (41.7). The Chargers were 24 of 56 (42.9). The Muleriders connected on 13 of 17 free throws, while UAH hit 12 of 15.
Stuart matched Stafford for game-high honors to lead SAU with 18 points, shooting 6 of 14 and hitting 6 of 8 from the line. He added eight rebounds, including five offensive, and had two assists and a steal. Senior forward Charles Moore finished with 15 points and shared game-high honors with Stuart in pulling down eight boards.
Southern Arkansas held a 33-25 rebound advantage, but committed 22 turnovers that Alabama-Huntsville converted into 23 points. The Chargers had 10 turnovers.
The loss was the Muleriders’ third consecutive. They have a long holiday break, not playing again until December 30 when they host Central Baptist College at 7 p.m. in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
SAU lets No. 15 North Alabama Slip by
By: Houston Taylor
SEARCY, Ark. – Southern Arkansas had No. 15 North Alabama on the ropes for 30 minutes, but the Lions (7-2) roared back in the latter part of the second half for a 78-66 win Friday in the Harding Classic at Rhodes Field House.
After holding a 38-33 advantage at halftime, the Muleriders were still on top, 56-53, at the 10:10 mark, but UNA rattled off a 21-6 run over the next 8:35 for a 74-62 margin and lead they never relinquished. SAU picked a bad time to go cold from the floor, hitting only 3 of 11 during the deciding span.
Southern Arkansas (4-5) kept its opponent at bay for the majority of the game, trailing only twice in the first frame. Junior guard Tony James’ lay-up put the Muleriders back on top 17-16 at 8:57 and they stretched that to a 37-28 lead with 2:03 remaining before settling for the five-point margin at the break.
SAU stayed in front until Corey Speight and Kenny Johnson hit jumpers to push the Lions ahead, 54-53 at 10:41 in the second. Red-shirt freshman Cory Clark then canned a trey and sophomore guard Channin Harden added a jumper for Southern Arkansas’ 56-53 advantage.
Both teams were evenly matched, with UNA’s run simply being the difference in the game. North Alabama shot 48.4 percent from the floor, hitting 30 of 62, while the Muleriders were 28 of 58 for 48.3 percent. The Lions were 9 of 21 (42.9) from downtown to SAU’s 7 of 19 (36.8).
Free throws continued to plague Southern Arkansas for the second consecutive game, not the shooting percentage, but rather the lack of attempts. The Muleriders went to the line just four times, making three, while UNA was 9 of 13. SAU has now attempted just 10 freebies in its past two games, converting seven.
Jarelle Redden led four North Alabama players in double figures, finishing with 16 points. Thomas Fraise had 14 and grabbed eight rebounds.
Senior forward Charles Moore matched Redden with 16 points in pacing Southern Arkansas and pulled down a game-high nine boards. Harden had 14 points and tossed out five assists, and Clark added 10 points.
The Lions held a 36-26 rebound advantage and committed 12 turnovers to the Muleriders’ 13.
SAU continues play in the classic Saturday when they square off against another Gulf South Conference East member in Alabama-Huntsville. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.
Keopple Named New SAU Football Coach
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Bill Keopple was introduced as the 19th head football coach at Southern Arkansas University in a press conference Friday in Overstreet Hall on the university campus. He has served the past six years as head coach at Texarkana Arkansas High School.
Keopple brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Muleriders, including 18 as an assistant on the collegiate level with stops at Tulsa, Arkansas, Boise State and Central Arkansas.
Keopple led his 2008 Arkansas High squad to a 5-7 record and the second round of the 6A state playoffs. His teams were 44-26-1 over the past six years, advancing to the state playoffs the last five and winning consecutive state championships in 2006 and 2007. Keopple’s 2005 and 2006 Razorback teams were 6A South Conference champions. He was honored in 2006 as the 6A State Farm Coach of the Year, as well as 6A Outstanding Coach by the National Football Foundation in both 2006 and 2007, and was selected to serve on the high school football All-Star coaching staffs in 2004 and 2007.
Before taking over the reins at Texarkana, Keopple returned to coaching in 2002 after a two-year hiatus by joining former Arkansas defensive coordinator Keith Burns’ staff at Tulsa. He spent that season coaching the defensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator for the Hurricane.
Prior to spending two years in private business, Keopple served as an assistant under Houston Nutt at Arkansas in 1998 and 1999, and was with Nutt at Boise State in 1997, coaching the defensive line at both schools. The Razorbacks were 1998 SEC Western Division champions and finished 9-3 and played Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Arkansas had the fifth-ranked rushing defense in the nation that season and was ranked seventh in total defense. The 1999 Razorbacks went 8-4 and defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, finishing the season 12th in rushing defense and 17th in total defense.
Keopple went to Boise State from Newport High School where he was head coach and athletic director in 1996. He guided the Greyhounds to the state playoffs in an 8-3 season, giving him an overall mark of 52-29-1 in his seven years on the high school level.
Graduating with a B.S.E. in 1982 and an M.S.E. in 1986 from Central Arkansas, Keopple began his coaching career there in 1982 as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line. He spent 14 years with the Bears, tutoring the offensive line the entire time and serving as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 1990-1995. During his tenure at UCA, the Bears won three NAIA national championships and 10 consecutive conference championships from 1983-1992 in the now defunct Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC).
A native of Little Rock, Keopple is the son of Hall of Fame high school coach C.W. Keopple. A 1976 graduate of Parkview High School, he played on the 1974 and 1976 state championship teams and was an all-state selection his senior season.
During his playing days at Central Arkansas, Keopple was a member of two conference championship teams and was an honorable mention selection on both the All-NAIA District 17 and All-AIC teams.
Keopple has a taste of his new Mulerider team’s conference affiliation in that his final three years on the Central Arkansas staff were its first three years in the Gulf South Conference.
No stranger to winning, Keopple has been associated with 18 championship teams as a player and coach. He has recruited extensively on the collegiate level in 13 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
Keopple, who celebrates his 50th birthday Monday, has been married 27 years to his wife, Marsha, and they have a 26-year old son, Landon, and a 24-year old daughter, Brittany. Landon is a graduate of Tulsa and a former wide receiver for the Hurricane, and currently serves as receiver coach at Ouachita Baptist. Brittany is a graduate of Arkansas and works in Fayetteville.
