By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Junior guard Channin Harden’s (Marianna) lay-up at 4:29 in the second half gave Southern Arkansas the lead for good at 61-60 as the Muleriders (5-2) went on to defeat Dallas Christian (Texas) College 72-64 Friday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. It was the first meeting between the two teams.
Harden shared game-high honors, scoring 21 points in 27 minutes of play off the bench.
Affiliated with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) and the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA), the Crusaders’ record of 1-12 on the season was a bit misleading as they gave SAU all it could handle for 40 minutes.
Dallas Christian (1-13) opened up a 14-point lead in the first half behind a 22-6 run that gave them a 33-19 edge at 3:19. Sophomore guard Antwan Warren fueled the spree by knocking down three treys and had 11 points during the span. Southern Arkansas had held a 13-11 margin prior at 10:58.
The Muleriders responded though, closing out the half with a 13-4 run behind seven points from sophomore guard Chase Spruiell (Princeton, Texas) to trail just 34-32 at the break.
The Crusaders opened the second stanza with a 14-6 run to go back up by double-digits at 48-38 with 13:25 left. But SAU chipped away and that’s when Harden came alive. After missing his first five shots from the floor in the game, he then connected on five straight, getting the first on a three-pointer at 8:11 to pull Southern Arkansas to within 52-51. After a Dallas Christian tip-in, Harden bombed another from downtown to tie it at 54-54, and eventually had the go-ahead lay-up which ignited an 11-0 run for a 70-60 Mulerider lead with 59 ticks left in the game.
Harden’s two free throws put SAU up 72-62 with seconds left before Warren’s lay-up provided the final difference in the game.
Harden finished 5 of 10 from the floor, including 2 of 3 from downtown, and connected on 9 of 12 free throws for his 21 points. The junior also shared team-high honors with six rebounds, tossed out two assists and had a steal.
Southern Arkansas shot well, hitting 23 of 46, with 6 of 12 from beyond the arc, and canned 20 of 27 (74.1 percent) free throws. The Crusaders were 28 of 69 (40.6), 6 of 21 (28.6) and only 2 of 9 (22.2) at the charity stripe.
Junior forward Justin Stuart (Hope) added 12 points for the Muleriders, and Spruiell finished with 11 and five boards. Senior guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado) pulled down six rebounds and dished out a game high seven assists.
Lawyer matched Harden with 21 points, but took 26 shots to do so, hitting just 1 of 11 three-pointers. Warren posted a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 boards.
Dallas Christian held a 39-34 rebound margin and committed just eight turnovers to SAU’s 11.
Southern Arkansas plays the second of three consecutive home games Saturday when they host William Carey at 6 p.m.
