Box Score Box Score

MAGNOLA, Ark. – With the Great American Conference Tournament now looming a month away, Southern Arkansas and East Central entered Thursday night's game at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in an all-out battle with one another to improve their positioning in the conference standings down the stretch. Given all that was on the line for the pivotal conference clash, the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team was able to answer the bell as they defeated East Central by a score of 61-51.
 
The win is the Muleriders' (9-11, 5-9 GAC) third consecutive, and keeps them in position to earn a berth in the upcoming GAC Men's Basketball Tournament, which is slated to begin on March 7th.
 
In Thursday's game the Muleriders raced out to a 15-1 lead over the first 4:16 of the game. The Tigers (7-13, 4-10 GAC) would then go on a 10-2 run over a stretch of 2:22 to cut the Muleriders' lead to six points, 17-11, with 12:20 remaining in the first half. With 6:34 remaining, the Tigers would pull as close five points, 21-16.
 
SAU would respond with another run, this one an 8-0 run, to extend their lead back out to double-digits. The Muleriders would maintain that size of a lead as they went into the locker room ahead by 10 points, 30-20.
 
A feverish second-half rally by the Tigers was in store as they briefly captured their first lead in the game at the 14:05 mark of the second half on good three-pointer by Colby Carr. A traditional three-point play on the other end of the court by Daviel Clements reclaimed the lead for the Muleriders.
 
After regaining the lead, the Muleriders went on a 14-4 run over the next 4:18 to gain a stronghold on the game. ECU would manage to get to within eight points on a couple of occasions, but the Muleriders eventually earned the 10-point win, 61-51.
 
Clements had the biggest night scoring for the Muleriders as he totaled 18 points. Nigel Jones was the only other Mulerider to score in double figures as he notched 10 points, but seven others contributed at least three points to the team's effort. Jones was also a force on the inside as he rejected five shots. Tevin Worthy, who led the team in rebounding with 10, was just behind Jones in blocks with four.
 
The Muleriders will remain at home as they will welcome Southeastern Oklahoma into the W.T. Watson Athletic Center on Saturday, February 9th. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.