Southern Arkansas University Athletics

A 6-2, 190-pound guard, Shawn Mason played basketball at Southern Arkansas from 1998-2002.  Prepping at Shirley High School, near Fairfield Bay, he made an immediate impact upon his arrival to the Mulerider basketball team.  A four-year starter, he averaged 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, and shot 44.7 percent from the floor, 34.5 percent on three-pointers, and 80.9 percent at the free throw line in 105 games over his career.
 
Mason led SAU to four consecutive Gulf South Conference tournament berths and was the league’s West Division freshman of the year for the 1998-99 season.  He went on to become one of only 13 players at the time in GSC history to be a three-time first team All-Conference pick, making the team his sophomore through senior years.  He was an All-South Region player both his junior and senior seasons, and was an honorable mention All-America selection his senior year of 2001-02.
 
As a senior, the fiery red-head not only led Southern Arkansas in scoring with a 17.8 average, but as a blue-collar worker, led his team in rebounding with an 8.2 average, astonishing for a 6-2 guard.  Mason also dished out 58 assists and picked off 32 steals his senior season.
 
Mason scored a career-high 41 points against Arkansas Tech as a senior.  In that game, he set a school and conference single-game free throw record that still stands, by converting 20 of 22 attempts at the line.  Mason is second all-time in Mulerider history with 436 career free throws, converting 73.8 percent as a freshman, 84.8 percent as a sophomore, 83.5 percent as a junior and 82.4 percent as a senior.
 
Mason scored 462 points his senior year to finish sixth all-time in Southern Arkansas scoring history with 1,556 career points.  His 400-plus points that season placed him in the university’s 400-point club, while making the 300-point club each of his first three seasons.  As a junior Mason averaged 17.0 points and 6.8 rebounds a game, and had 43 assists and 37 steals.
 
Shawn and his wife, Andrea, now live in Bald Knob.  He is presently taking courses in preparation for employment with the Arkansas State Police.