Southern Arkansas Loses Season Finale to UAM
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Arkansas-Monticello led from start to finish in handing Southern Arkansas a 71-55 setback in their season finale Saturday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. The win gave the Boll Weevils (14-10, 9-5 GSC) a split of the regular season series as the Muleriders (9-18, 4-10 GSC) claimed a 54-51 victory earlier in Monticello.
UAM simply out-shot SAU, knocking down 27 of 50 from the floor for 54 percent, while Southern Arkansas managed just 18 of 54 (33.3).
Arkansas-Monticello jumped out to an 18-8 margin on Jarrell Turner’s jumper at 12:06 and they eventually extended that to a 33-15 game with four minutes left in the first half. The Boll Weevils led 36-21 at the break.
Chris Paige’s dunk lifted UAM to its largest margin of 43-24 at 18:04 in the second. The Muleriders were never able to trim it to single-digits, coming only as close as 45-34 on a dunk from senior guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado) at 13:23. Arkansas-Monticello stretched it back to a 71-53 game with seconds left, before junior forward Justin Stuart’s (Hope) lay-up set the final score.
The Boll Weevils hit four three-pointers in the contest to SAU’s two. Southern Arkansas did overcome a season nemesis, connecting on 17 of 20 (85.0) free throws, while UAM was 13 of 21 (61.9).
Stuart posted a game-high 19 points and had six rebounds to lead the Muleriders. Dade finished with 11 points and had four steals in his final game for SAU. Senior guard Tony James (Bossier City, La.) was also playing in his final game and dished out a game-high five assists.
Nick Carey paced Arkansas-Monticello with 18 points, and Turner recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Christian Brothers uses Long Ball to Knock off SAU
By: Houston Taylor
MEMPHIS – Christian Brothers hit 11 of 33 three-pointers en route to a 73-60 win over Southern Arkansas Saturday at Canale Arena, handing the Muleriders (9-17, 4-9 GSC) their sixth consecutive loss.
Six different Buccaneers had a hand in the long ball bombardment, with Kevin Doran knocking down 5 of 8. Kyle Couvion had two, and four others canned one apiece, as CBU (17-9, 7-6 GSC) shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Couvion finished with 16 points, and Doran and Zack Warner chipped in 15 apiece, with Warner connecting on all six of his free throws.
SAU led briefly in the first four minutes of the game, but after that it was all the Buccaneers as they eventually built a 36-point margin at 63-27 with 6:34 left in the game. Southern Arkansas wouldn’t throw in the towel though, outscoring CBU 33-7 the rest of the way, behind 15 points from guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado).
Although in a losing effort, Dade, the reigning Gulf South Conference West Division player of the week, had his best game yet in posting a 
double-double with career-highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds. The senior has been spectacular over his past three games, averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.3 assists.
Against Christian Brothers, Dade was 8 of 12 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the foul line, and also had a pair of assists and steals, and blocked a shot.
Dade hit two free throws to pull the Muleriders to within 17-13 with 5:26 left in the first half, but the Bucs closed out the half with a 14-5 run for a 31-18 margin at the break.
CBU finished 25 of 60 from the floor for 41.7 percent and was 12 of 16 (75.0) at the free throw line. SAU was 23 of 51 (45.1), with 2 of 9 treys, and 12 of 22 (54.5) on free throws.
Southern Arkansas committed only 11 turnovers, but Christian Brothers converted them into 22 points. The Buccaneers suffered just six turnovers.
Sophomore guard Chase Spruiell (Princeton, Texas) added 11 points and six boards for the Muleriders.
SAU closes out its season Saturday, hosting Arkansas-Monticello with an approximate tip of 7:30 p.m.
Dade Garners GSC Basketball Accolade
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas guard Sanchez Dade (6-4, 185, Sr., El Dorado, Ark.) has been named the Gulf South Conference West 
Division player of the week for his performance in the Muleriders’ two games over the last reporting period.
Dade had a stellar week, averaging 19 points, five rebounds, 4.5 steals and 2.5 assists, while shooting 72.7 percent (16-22) from the floor. The senior led SAU to a near upset of Delta State in a thriller that turned into an 86-85 overtime loss, scoring 18 points with a game-high five steals and a team-high six rebounds. Dade followed that up with a 20-point, four-rebound performance at Ouachita Baptist, also dishing out a game-high five assists and tallying a game-high four thefts.
Dade is the first Southern Arkansas men’s basketball player to earn the weekly league honor in four years.
Former Southern Arkansas Coach and Professor Passes away
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Dr. Delwin T. Ross, former Southern Arkansas athlete, coach and education professor, passed away Saturday, February 20 in Magnolia. He was 82 and born October 7, 1927 in Hope, Ark.
Ross attended and played quarterback for what was then Magnolia A&M Junior College from 1947-1949, and was also a star guard on the Mulerider basketball team during that time, being named to the junior college all-region team in 1949.
Following his graduation from A&M, Ross attended Henderson State where he was a three-sport letterman from 1949-1951 in football, basketball and baseball. He was co-captain of the Reddie football team, playing quarterback and wingback, and he won All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) honors as an outfielder on the Reddie baseball team in 1951. Ross earned six varsity letters while at Henderson State.
Ross received his B.S.E. from Henderson State in 1951, his M.S.E. from East Texas State (Commerce, Texas) College in 1954, and his Ed.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1970.
After leaving Henderson State, Ross began his coaching career as an assistant at Arkansas High School in Texarkana, coaching there one year before taking a football assistant position at De Queen. After two years, Ross became head coach of the Leopards, guiding them to a two-year mark of 21-1. He also was head basketball and baseball coach and served as principal while at De Queen.
Ross returned to Magnolia and what by then had become Southern State College in 1956 as an assistant football coach under the guidance of head coach Auburn Smith. He remained with the Mulerider football program for 11 years through the 1966 season.
One of the most versatile coaches ever at the university, Ross’ 1956 arrival began a span of 39 years of coaching and teaching at the institution, serving not only on the football staff, but also as head coach of the Mulerider baseball, basketball and swim teams.
Ross succeeded Sam Bailey as head baseball coach in the fall of 1956 and coached the team for 11 seasons through 1967. He took over from Duddy Waller as head of the Mulerider basketball team in 1957, coaching them for six years through 1963. His basketball teams advanced to two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) district tournaments. In 1969 Ross began a 16-year career as head coach of the Mulerider swim team that led through 1985 when he retired from coaching. He was named both the AIC and NAIA District swim coach of the year in 1980. One of Ross’ swim highlights was coaching his son, Wayne, who was an All-AIC swimmer from 1980-1983. Wayne was inducted into the Southern Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame this past fall.
Following his coaching career, Ross continued serving as a professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for another 10 years, retiring from the university in 1994. He taught over a dozen different courses during his 39 years at Southern Arkansas and also served as supervisor of student teaching.
Through the SAU community swim program, Dr. Ross taught literally thousands of children and adults how to swim. He was an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society and received their Pacesetter Award on behalf of Columbia County. Ross was inducted into the Henderson State Reddies Hall of Honor in 2009.
A member of First Baptist Church, Ross served as both a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Billie (Franks); sons David and wife, Brenda, of Tulsa, Okla., and Wayne and wife, Judy; and a daughter, Sharon Ware and husband, Joe, all of Magnolia; four grandchildren, Kerri Packwood of Fayetteville, Melani Dittfurth of Melissa, Texas, Christie Malone of San Francisco, Calif., and Cindie Nokes of Magnolia; four great grandchildren; a brother, Harrison and wife, Myra, of Hope; and a sister, Helen Levering from North Carolina.
Ross is preceded in death by his parents, the late Thomas Earl and Iris, and a sister, Violet Brooks.
Visitation with the family was held Monday at Lewis Funeral Home in Magnolia. Graveside services will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery, with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Magnolia with Bro. David Watkins officiating and assisted by Bro. Richard Walters. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church or to Southern Arkansas University.
Tigers Eliminate Muleriders’ Chance for GSC Tournament
By: Houston Taylor
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita Baptist ended Southern Arkansas’ run for a Gulf South Conference tournament appearance as the Tigers (7-18, 3-9 GSC) handed the Muleriders (9-16, 4-8 GSC) a 69-64 loss Saturday at Bill Vining Arena.
Even if SAU won its remaining two games of the regular season for a 6-8 conference mark, the best they could finish in league play would be in either a tie with Christian Brothers (6-6), or three-way tie with Harding (5-6) added, for fourth place. The top four teams advance to the tourney.
In either of the two scenarios, Christian Brothers has the advantage over Southern Arkansas. The first tie-breaker wouldn’t be in effect, with each having split their season series against each other. It would move to the second tie-breaker, which is the two teams’ records against the other league teams in the West Division, by order of the standings. Both the Muleriders and Christian Brothers would be 0-2 versus first-place Arkansas Tech, so the tie-breaker would move to second-place Delta State. CBU split their season series with them, while SAU was swept by the Statesmen, therefore allowing Christian Brothers to advance. Where Harding finishes has no factor on Southern Arkansas at all, even in a three-way tie.
Belford Williams lifted the Tigers over the Muleriders, posting a double-double with game-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds. OBU won the game on the boards, pulling down 38 rebounds to outscore SAU 20-5 on second-chance points. Southern Arkansas had 26 rebounds.
Close throughout, the game saw seven ties and five lead changes, and Ouachita Baptist never trailed in the second half. They held eight-point margins four times in the final frame, the last 67-59 with 38 ticks left. Junior forward Justin Stuart’s (Hope) lay-up pulled the Muleriders to within 49-47 at 7:51 and junior guard Channin Harden (Marianna) had two free throws to make it 61-58 at 1:28. But the Tigers hit both their shots and 4 of 7 freebies down the stretch to seal the win.
OBU commanded a 27-17 lead at 5:14 in the first half. SAU then closed out the half with a 16-6 run to make it a 33-33 game at the break.
Belford hit 7 of 10 from the floor and 7 of 9 freebies for his 21 points, and also had five blocked shots. Olden Jordan added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Senior guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado) was stellar for Southern Arkansas, scoring 20 points. He also had four rebounds, five assists, blocked a shot and added four steals. Stuart finished with 17 points, Harden had 12, and sophomore guard Chase Spruiell (Princeton, Texas) grabbed five boards.
The loss was the Muleriders’ fifth consecutive, and sixth in their past seven games. They travel Thursday to face Christian Brothers in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Overtime Unkind to Southern Arkansas again
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Overtime has not been kind to Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders fell for the third time in extra frame games this season with a heartbreaking 86-85 loss to Delta State (18-5, 9-2 GSC) Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. It was the Statesmen’s sixth consecutive win in the series.
The loss dealt SAU (9-15, 4-7 GSC) a temporary setback in their bid to advance to the Gulf South Conference tournament. Coupled with Harding’s win at Christian Brothers Thursday, Southern Arkansas, at 4-7, drops to fifth in the West Division, a full game back of both those clubs who are tied for fourth at 5-6. Three games remain for all the league teams, with the top four moving on to the post-season tourney.
The Muleriders came back from 13-point deficits in each half of regulation to force overtime. Delta commanded a 36-25 margin at the half, and it was knotted at 72-72 to send it to an extra period.
The Statesmen took a 78-73 lead with three minutes remaining in the game, but SAU rallied and went up 81-80 on two free throws from senior guard Sanchez Dade (El Dorado) with a minute left. Marqueys Brown’s lay-up pushed Delta State back in front at 35 seconds, but Dade followed with a monster slam for Southern Arkansas. The Statesmen attempted 29 three-pointers in the game, hitting nine, but none was more important than Eric Spencer’s with 16 ticks left for an 86-84 margin. Mulerider junior guard David Noble (Mansfield, Texas) then drew the foul while driving the lane with a chance to tie. Like most of the season though, free throws have hurt SAU, and Noble was only able to convert his first with seven seconds remaining. Dade grabbed the second miss but Southern Arkansas fell short on two quick final attempts for the win.
The Muleriders finished just 20 of 33 (60.6) at the free throw line.
Brown was solid for Delta State, finishing with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds. Joe McCray added 22 points and eight boards, Jeremie Davis chipped in 16 points, and Roderick Ollie led all players in pulling down nine rebounds.
Junior guard Channin Harden (Marianna) led five SAU players in double-figure scoring with 23 points. Dade had 18 and six boards, Noble finished with 16 points, junior forward Justin Stuart (Hope) scored 12, and sophomore guard Chase Spruiell (Princeton, Texas) had 11.
Southern Arkansas’ overtime losses have come in their last four games, all at home, with the other two being a 79-69 setback to No. 1 Arkansas Tech February 4 and a 67-65 decision Saturday against Henderson State.
The Muleriders try to make up some ground Saturday when they travel to face Ouachita Baptist in a 5 p.m. tip-off. SAU snared a 66-62 win at home over the Tigers in their first meeting.
SAU can’t stop Free Throws and Harding
By: Houston Taylor
SEARCY, Ark. – Fifty-three free throws. That’s what Harding shot, and converted 34 to ride past Southern Arkansas, 67-60, Monday at Rhodes Field House.
The Muleriders (9-14, 4-6 GSC) out-shot and out-rebounded the Bisons (11-11, 4-6 GSC) Monday, but couldn’t get past the discrepancies at the free throw line. They were pegged with 31 fouls to the Bisons’ 21, giving Harding 31 more attempts at the foul stripe. SAU didn’t help itself at the line, knocking down only 11 of their 22. Four Southern Arkansas players fouled out of the game to one for the Bisons.
Southern Arkansas rode a 13 of 26 shooting performance in the first half to a 30-22 halftime lead, and led by as much as nine. The Bisons managed only three field goals on 14 attempts in the first frame, but stayed in it with 16 of 23 freebies, while the Muleriders had 3 of 8.
The tide turned for Harding midway the second half as SAU committed seven turnovers in the first five minutes of the half. The Bisons had kept pecking away and Kevin Brown’s lay-up gave them their first lead since 8:58 in the first, making it 33-32 at 14:11. After a few trade-off buckets, Stephen Blake’s three-pointer with 12:54 remaining pushed Harding in front for awhile and his free throw at 5:34 gave them a 57-48 advantage.
Southern Arkansas wouldn’t fold, using an 11-2 run to knot it 59-59 on junior guard David Noble’s (Mansfield, Texas) jumper at 2:22. The Bisons outscored them 8-1 down the stretch though, hitting 6 of 9 free throws during the span.
The Muleriders shot 47 percent for the game, connecting on 23 of 49, including 3 of 9 treys. Harding finished with only 15 field goals on 37 attempts (40.5), 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. They shot 30 free throws in the second half, making 18. The Bisons’ 53 attempts at the charity stripe were the most ever by a Harding team in a GSC game and were the most in any game in more than 14 seasons.
Both teams were sloppy with the ball, SAU committing 23 turnovers and the Bisons 20. Southern Arkansas held a 32-30 rebound edge.
Noble led all scorers with 20 points, and senior guard Tony James (Bossier City, La.), who hadn’t played since being injured in the overtime loss to top-ranked Arkansas Tech February 4, scored 13 off the bench with five assists. Junior forward Justin Stuart (Hope) had six rebounds.
Brown paced Harding with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Blake and Trent Morgan scored 15 points apiece.
It was the Muleriders’ third consecutive loss and drops them into a tie with the Bisons at 4-6 for fifth place in the GSC West Division. They are both one game behind Christian Brothers for the fourth and final league tournament berth. SAU hosts Delta State Thursday at approximately 7:30 p.m.
