Southern Arkansas Muleriders (5-5, 2-3 GAC)

at Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (6-6, 4-2 GAC) Saturday, January 11 @ 4 p.m Bethany, Okla. (Sawyer Center) Live Audio | Live Stats | Live Video

---

GAME NOTES (PDF)

Setting the Stage
The top two scoring offenses in the Great American Conference square off for the first time this season as Southern Arkansas hits the road to take on Southern Nazarene. The two teams both average over 79 points per game with the Crimson Storm (6-6, 4-2 GAC) averaging slightly more at 80.0 points per game.
 
The Muleriders (5-5, 2-3 GAC) will look to pick up their second conference road win of the season. Last year, SAU went 0-10 on the road in conference play. In order to do so, the Muleriders will likely have to contain the GAC's top two scorers in the Crimson Storm's CJ Smith and Quan Conner. The duo combines to average 39.8 of the team's 80.0 points per game.  
 
The Coaches
Southern Arkansas is led by second-year head coach Andy Sharpe. In his first season at the helm, Sharpe led the Muleriders to the Great American Conference Tournament. A NAIA National Coach of the Year prior to coming to SAU, Sharpe brings a wealth of successful coaching experience to the Mulerider basketball program.
 
Southern Nazarene is coached by Adam Bohac. Now in his sixth season at Southern Nazarene, Bohac had led the Crimson Storm to three consecutive NAIA National Tournament apperances before the Strom moved into NCAA Division II and the Great American Conference. In his first season coaching at the DII level, Bohac led the Crimson Storm to a 15-13 overall record and a 9-11 mark in the GAC.
 
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of 67-56 loss at home to East Central. In that game, SAU got off to a very slow start offensively, making just one of their first 15 shots from the floor. Those early shooting woes put the Muleriders in a hole that would be too big to climb out of, but the Muleriders, who began to shoot better the rest of the game, made the game competitive.  
 
Last Time vs. Southern Nazarene (February 14, 2013)
In their last meeting, Southern Nazarene defended their home court as they handed the Muleriders a 63-57 loss. That game started off as a low-scoring affair as the halftime score was 24-20, SNU. Both teams would improve upon their shooting in the second half and that led to more scoring, but the Muleriders weren't ever able to get out in front of the Crimson Storm as SNU led wire-to-wire.
 
Checking the Standings
Southern Nazarene enters Saturday's game in a tie for third place with a 4-2 GAC record. The Muleriders enter in fifth place with a record of 2-3. The Crimson Storm are not eligible for the GAC Tournament, but are eligible for a regular season championship. Therefore, their conference standing will not count towards tournament seeding.
 
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 % (.671) and blocked shots/per game (31/3.1). Brown is close to being team leader in rebounds/per game (80/8.0). In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game. In FG %, Brown ranks 2nd in the GAC while ranking 4th in rebounds.
 
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 25 trifectas. His 25 made three-pointers are 4th in the GAC. On the year, Sanchez had made at least one three-pointer in each of the first eight games played this season. In the last two games, however, Sanchez has struggled to find his shot, going 0-for-8 from deep.
 
Francis and Williams Join the Mix
Junior transfers Aaron Francis and Chauncy Williams were eligible to join the team at semester and have provided much-needed depth to the Muleriders, who were down to eight (8) healthy players at the end of the fall semester.
In his season-debut, Williams lit up the scoreboard as he scored a team-high 22 points. Williams followed that up with a 15-point performance in his last game.
 
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 47 shots for an average of 4.7 blocks per game. The blocks per game are tops in the GAC and rank the Muleriders in the top 40 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 31 blocks and 3.1 blocks per game. Brown ranks seventh individually in blocks per game and 19th individually in total blocks.
 
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" had been less than giving to the Muleriders through the first seven (7) games this season as they were shooting a conference-low 61% (112-of-185) from the free throw line. In the three games since, the Muleriders are shooting 70% from the FT line and have raised their season percentage to 64%.
 
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 4-2. When they haven't had more points in the paint, the Muleriders are 1-3.
 
Playing the Percentages
Through seven games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just under 47% (279-of-600) from the floor, which ranks them third 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 2-4.
 
Break Time
Through 10 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime five times. In those games, the Muleriders are 4-1. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 1-4.
 
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 79.6 points per game, which ranks 2nd in the GAC?!
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (47/4.7) and steals (107/10.7)?!
? - Jeffrey Walker (11th) and Alre'k Brown (14th) rank in the top-15 in the GAC in scoring?!
? - Tre'von Wilkerson leads the GAC and DII in Free Throw percentage (96% | 26-of-27)?!
? - Alre'k Brown's 17 rebounds vs. Central Baptist were the most in a game since 2003?!