Southern Arkansas Muleriders (3-4, 0-2 GAC)
at Ouachita Baptist Tigers (2-4, 0-2 GAC) Thursday, December 5 @ 7:30 p.m Arkadelphia, Ark. (Bill Vining Arena) Live Audio | Live Stats	at Henderson State Reddies (2-4, 0-2 GAC) Saturday, December 7 @ 4 p.m Arkadelphia, Ark. (Duke Wells Center) Live Audio | Live Stats | Live Video

Game Notes (PDF)

Setting the Scene
        The Muleriders enter play this week looking to pick up their first win in Great American Conference play after they went 0-2 in their first two GAC tilts against Northwestern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma, both at home. This will be the Muleriders' first road conference games of the season and just their second and third times playing away from home. Last year, the Muleriders were 0-10 in road conference games and are 0-1 on the road this year.
 
Last Year vs. Ouachita Baptist
        Last season, the Muleriders split with Ouachita, each winning on their home court. The first meeting came on December 6 in Magnolia and featured a 66-54 Mulerider win. In that game, SAU limited the Tigers to 31% shooting. The second meeting would not go SAU's way as they fell to OBU by a score of 68-61.
 
Last Year vs. Henderson State    
        Last year, the Muleriders and Reddies split their season series, each winning on their home court. The initial meeting went to overtime and in that extra period, the Muleriders out-scored the Reddies 10-0 en route to an 82-72 win. In the second meeting, the Reddies exacted some revenge as they came away with a 78-67 win.  

Starting from the Bottom
        Despite making the conference tournament as the no. 8 seed a year ago, the 2013-14 SAU men's basketball team was tabbed to finish 11th out of 11 in the GAC preseason coaches poll. Eight talented newcomers and lone returner Duke Reed will figure to have something to say about where they actually finish the season.
 
What Can Brown Do For You?!
        So far this season, Alre'k Brown has shown that he can do just about everything for the Mulerider basketball team. Brown currently leads the team in FG % (.667), rebounds/per game (67/9.6), and blocked shots/per game (26/3.7).
        In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game and rebounds/per game. In FG %, Brown ranks third in the GAC.
 
Nemo For Three-Mo
        Junior guard Nemo Sanchez has proved to be the Muleriders' top three-point threat so far this season as he has buried a team-leading 24 trifectas. His 24 made three-pointers are also tops in the GAC.
        On the year, Sanchez as made at least one three-pointer in all seven games played this season and has knocked down four or more four times. His best performance of the season came against Central Baptist (12-2-13) when he drained 6-of-7 from long range.
 
Looking to Start a Positive Streak
        At 3-4 entering play tonight, the Muleriders have not strung together multiple wins yet this season. After opening the season with a win, the Muleriders alternated wins and losses over their next three games to open with a 2-2 overall record. Losses to SWOSU and Texas A&M-Commerce followed to give the Muleriders a season-long three-game skid, which was broken up with their win over Central Baptist.
 
No No No No, Not in Our House
        BEWARE: Opponents who choose to enter the paint against the Muleriders must do so at their own risk. On the year, the Muleriders have blocked a total of 41 shots for an average of 5.9 blocks per game. Each of those totals are tops in the GAC (by a wide margin) and rank the Muleriders in the top 31 in Division II.
        Twice this season, the Muleriders have blocked 10 or more shots. Junior forward Alre'k Brown has been the most dominant shot-blocker as he has a GAC-leading 26 blocks. Brown's dominance is echoed in the fact that his 26 blocks are more than seven GAC schools have total.
 
Reaching the Century Mark
        The Muleriders have reached the century mark in scoring twice this season, making it five times under second-year head coach Andy Sharpe that the Muleriders have achieved that feat.
        The five 100+ point games between last season and this season are the most during a two-year stretch since the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons when the Muleriders had seven such games.
 
Not So Charitable Stripe
        The "Charity Stripe" has been less than giving to the Muleriders so far this season. As a team, the Muleriders are shooting a conference-low .605 (112-of-185) from the free throw line. In all but one game, the Muleriders have shot less than 70% from the line, but that lone game over 70% did not result in a win as SWOSU beat SAU 76-68.
 
Winning Inside the Paint
        One of the keys to the Muleriders' success this season has been when they have won the battle in the paint. In games in which they have scored more points in the paint, the Muleriders are 3-1. When they haven't had more points in the paint, the Muleriders are 0-3.
 
Playing the Percentages
        Through seven games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just under
50% (.499 | 216-of-433) from the floor, which ranks them second in the GAC. In four games, the Muleriders have shot over 45% and are 3-1 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 0-3.
 
Break Time
        Through seven games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime three times. In those games, the Muleriders are 2-1. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 1-3.
 
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 84.7 points per game, which ranks 2nd in the GAC?!
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in assists/per game (107/15.3) and steals (63/9.0)?!
? - Alre'k Brown (10th), Nemo Sanchez (15th), and Jeffrey Walker (4th) all rank in the top-15
in the GAC in scoring?!
? - Tre'von Wilkerson leads the GAC in Free Throw percentage (94% | 17-of-18)?!
? - Alre'k Brown's 17 rebounds vs. Central Baptist were the most in a game since 2003?!