Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Southern Arkansas' mid-season search for answers continued Saturday as Arkansas Tech walked away with a 64-54 win in Great American Conference play at Tucker Coliseum.
 
The Muleriders (6-9, 2-7 GAC) have struggled over the past month, dropping six of their past seven games, while the Wonder Boys (9-6, 6-3 GAC) won their fourth consecutive game at home.
 
Willie Kirkland posted a double-double in leading ATU with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Jay Murphy scored 11 points.
 
Junior guard Jamail Turner (Swainsboro, Ga.) was SAU's only player scoring in double-figures with 10 points.  Five others added six points apiece as Southern Arkansas suffered another cold shooting night.
 
Despite the lack of offensive production, the Muleriders remained in it through the second half, rallying from a 43-29 deficit over a five minute span to cut it to a 47-42 game with 8:48 left.
 
Tech pushed it back to a 10-point margin of 55-45 on a lay-up from Kirkland at 4:29, but SAU twice got within six over the next three minutes, trailing 58-52 after senior guard Daviel Clement's (Jesup, Ga.) three-pointer with 1:17 remaining.  Southern Arkansas got only three shots off the rest of the way though, all treys that missed, as the Wonder Boys eased away for the win.
 
The Muleriders held an early 8-4 first half lead and were up 11-10 at 12:18, before Tyler Friedel's three-pointer put ATU up for good seconds later.  They held a 30-25 lead at the half.
 
SAU managed just 31 percent shooting on 19 of 61 from the floor, hitting only 5 of 30 treys for 17 percent.  They were 11 of 18 at the free throw line.
 
Arkansas Tech finished at 46 percent from the field on 20 of 44, with 4 of 11 treys, and connected on 20 of 30 at the foul stripe.
 
Southern Arkansas held a 41-35 rebound advantage, with junior forward Duke Reed (Houston, Texas) pulling down seven.
 
The Muleriders travel Thursday to Monticello for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with Arkansas-Monticello.