SAU Eliminates Wesley College, 85-59

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas completed a season-opening four-game home stretch by defeating Wesley (Miss.) College 85-59 Wednesday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Wesley (3-9), affiliated with the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) Division II, ran out to a 6-0 lead and was up 11-4 after the first three minutes of play. Shooting at a 78 percent clip over the first seven minutes they still held a slim 18-17 advantage before the Muleriders (3-1) outscored them 31-8 for a 48-26 margin at the break.

SAU built 29-point leads twice early in the second half on lay-ups from senior guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado), the last coming at 17:11 for a 57-28 game. But the Warriors rallied over the next 10 minutes with a 23-9 run to pull within 66-51 at the 7:54 mark. Southern Arkansas then responded by scoring 11 consecutive points and rolled on to the win.

Mulerider sophomore guard Chase Spruiell (Princeton, Texas) recorded a season and game-high 17 points, hitting 6 of 9 shots, including 3 of 4 three-pointers, and both his free throws. He added three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in only 19 minutes of play off the bench.

SAU regained its shooting touch that it lost in Monday’s loss to Northeastern State, knocking down 32 of 50 from the field for 64 percent. They connected on 6 of 12 treys and finished 15 of 19 (78.9) at the free throw line. Wesley was 20 of 55 (36.4) from the floor, 9 of 24 (37.5) from beyond the arc, and hit 10 of 14 (71.4) freebies.

Dade finished with 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, junior guard David Noble (Mansfield, Texas) added 13 points, and sophomore forward Casey Cheshier (Frisco, Texas) scored 10. Senior guard Tony James (Bossier City, La.) dished out seven assists.
The Warriors were led by Derrius Nelson with 13 points, Cordarell Person chipped in 12, and Keith Simmons finished with 10.

Southern Arkansas used a 36-20 rebound advantage to outscore Wesley 40-16 inside. The Muleriders committed 17 turnovers to the Warriors’ 16.

SAU plays its first game on the road this season Saturday when they travel to Durant, Okla. for a rematch with Southeastern Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. Southern Arkansas pulled out a 70-64 win in the teams’ first meeting a week ago in Magnolia. The Muleriders then travel to Tahlequah, Okla. Monday to face Northeastern State again in a 7 p.m. contest.