Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Looking to break their current three-game skid, the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team hosted Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. Despite another closely contested game, however, the Muleriders were unable to come away with a win as they fell to the Wonder Boys by a score of 69-65.
 
The Muleriders (9-15, 5-13 GAC) and Wonder Boys (15-9, 12-6 GAC) had their offenses rolling early as they both knocked down 15 shots from the floor while shooting at or above 50% for the first half.
 
SAU's Chris Davis, who ended with a game-high 22 points, would give the Muleriders a one-point lead, 36-35, heading into the break as he drained a three-pointer with two seconds remaining in the first half.
 
The Wonder Boys would open the second half by taking the lead on a layup by Willie Kirkland. That lead would last until the 12:46 mark of the second half when Duke Reed buried a three-pointer to give the Muleriders a one-point lead, 46-45. SAU then extended their lead out to as much as four points as Davis hit another three-pointer.
 
Tech would battle back from the small deficit and grabbed another lead at the 7:02 mark on a layup by Bobby Hatchett. The Hatchett layup spearheaded a 9-0 run by the Wonder Boys and gave them their largest lead of the game, nine points.
 
The Wonder Boys would not be able to build a lead any larger as the Muleriders ripped of a 7-0 run over a span of 1:41 to get back to within two points, 61-59, with 2:32 remaining in the game. The late run by the Muleriders would be weathered by the Wonder Boys, however, as they did not relinquish the lead the remainder of the game.
 
Two other Muleriders joined Davis in scoring double-figures as Darrin Johnson scored 12 points off the bench, while Nigel Jones scored 11 points.  
 
The Muleriders will next be in action on Thursday, February 28th as they will play host to Arkansas-Monticello. That game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. and will serve as Senior Night for the Muleriders. Three seniors, Daviel Clements, Chris Davis, and Rodney Hill will be honored.