Box Score HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Southern Arkansas used a 40-10 run in the latter part of the second half to run away with a 100-66 win over Champion Baptist in the men's season-opener Tuesday at the Lions Den.
 
Junior forward Nigel Jones (Wadley, Ala.) led four Muleriders in double-digit scoring with 22 points and had three steals.  Senior guard Daviel Clements (Jesup, Ga.) added 18 points off the bench, junior guard Darrin Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) scored 14, and senior guard Chris Davis (North Little Rock) turned in 13 points and five assists.
 
Brandon Likins recorded a double-double for the Lions with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Matthias Capaci scored 21 points and had five steals.
 
SAU led 46-36 at the half, but Champion Baptist cut it to a 53-50 game on Capaci's three-pointer at 13:54 in the second half, and trailed only 60-56 at the 11-minute mark.
 
Southern Arkansas took off from there though, with two free throws from Jones and a lay-up from Clements igniting the 40-11 run to close out the game.
 
Jones' three-pointer at the 6:10 mark put it in double-digits for good at 70-58, and a 28-4 scoring spree turned it into a 36-point game (98-62) with under a minute to play.  Davis' two freebies hit the century mark for the Muleriders with 13 ticks on the clock.
 
SAU was cold in the first half from the floor, shooting 39 percent on 18 of 46 and the Lions took advantage of that, holding an early 11-6 lead and were still up 17-15 at 11:40.  A 9-0 run from there though, put Southern Arkansas ahead for good and they led 46-36 at halftime.
 
The Muleriders shot 20 of 40 from the floor in the second stanza to finish 38 of 86 and at 44 percent for the game.  Champion Baptist shot 19 of 65 for 29 percent.
 
SAU used its size advantage to hold a huge 62-33 rebound margin, with junior forward Tevin Worthy (Little Rock) pulling down 11, while junior forward Duke Reed (Houston, Texas) grabbed eight, and junior guard Jamail Turner (Swainsboro, Ga.) seven.
 
Southern Arkansas outscored the Lions 42-20 inside, and forced 20 turnovers that they converted into 35 points, while Champion Baptist got only 18 off 21 Mulerider miscues.
 
First-year SAU Head Coach Andy Sharpe spread the minutes around with 14 players seeing playing time, with 11 getting double-digit minutes of action.
 
Southern Arkansas holds its home-opener Thursday, hosting Central Baptist College in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.