Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (6-8, 3-6 GAC)

vs. Arkansas-Monticello BOLL WEEVILS (12-5, 5-4 GAC) Thursday, January 23 @ 7:30 p.m Magnolia, Ark. (W.T. Watson Center) Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (SAU Feed)

GAME NOTES (PDF)

Setting the Stage
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team is set to host rivals Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night in the W.T. Watson Center. The Muleriders will be looking to rebound from a 68-83 loss on the road against Henderson State in their most recent action on Tuesday.
 
The Muleriders (6-8, 3-6 GAC) will have the benefit of playing at home where they have won five of their six games this year. Conversely, the Boll Weevils (12-5, 5-4 GAC) have only won twice away from home.

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.
 
Arkansas-Monticello is coached by Allen Sharpe. Now in his fourth season at UAM, Sharpe has compiled a 51-33 record in his first three full seasons. Prior to coming UAM, Sharpe spent five seasons (2005-10) as the head coach at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala., where he guided the program to an overall record of 136-30.  
 
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of a 68-83 loss on the road against Henderson State. In that game, the Muleriders fell behind early as the Reddies were on fire to start the game. Despite a concerted comeback effort in the second half, the early hole was too much to overcome for the Muleriders.
 
As a team, the Muleriders would shoot the ball fairly well as the ended the game shooting at a clip of 47%. Jeffrey Walker led the team in scoring as he scored 24 points off of the bench. Walker's 24 points came on the strength of 9-of-11 shooting from the floor and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Taylor and Alre'k Brown would join Walker in double figures as Taylor scored 15 points and Brown added 14 points of his own.
 
Last Time vs. Arkansas-Monticello (February 28, 2013)
The last time SAU and UAM played, regulation was not enough as the two teams played each other to a tie at the end of the second half. The extra five minutes would be controlled by the Muleriders as the Boll Weevils shooting went cold, allowing the Muleriders edge their rivals by two-points, 70-68.
 
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play this evening with a 3-6 record in the GAC and currently sits in eighth-place in the standings. If they season were to end today, the Muleriders would be in the No.7 seed in the tournament.
 
Arkansas-Monticello enters tonight's game in sixth-place with a 5-4 GAC record. If the season were to end today, the Reddies would be the No.5 seed in the tournament.
 
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 coach's 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 % (.664) and blocked shots/per game (42/3.0). Brown is also the team leader in rebounds/per game (112/8.0). In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game and FG %, while ranking 3^rd in rebounds.
 
Nemo For Three-Mo
Junior guard Nemo Sanchez has been one of the Muleriders' top three-point threats so far this season as he has buried a team-leading 35 trifectas. His 35 made three-pointers are 3rd in the GAC. On the year, Sanchez had made at least one three-pointer in 12 of 14 games played this season. After a two-game slump in which Sanchez was 0-for-8 from deep, the Pasadena, Texas native broke out in a big way as he knocked down five (5) treys against Southern Nazarene (1/11/14).
 
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.
Since joining the active roster, Williams has scored in double figures in all but one game played and leads the team in scoring (15.5 ppg) during that time.
 
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 62 shots for an average of 4.4 blocks per game. The blocks per game are tops in the GAC. Twice this season, the Muleriders have blocked 10 or more shots. Junior forward Alre'k Brown has been the most dominant shot-blocker on the team as he has a GAC-leading 42 blocks and 3.0 blocks per game.
 
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 seven game since, the Muleriders are shooting 66% from the FT line but they still have a season percentage only 63% which ranks 10th in the GAC.
 
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. Five of their six wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
 
Playing the Percentages
Through 14 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just over 45% (380-of-838) from the floor, which ranks them sixth in the GAC. In six games, the Muleriders have shot over 45%, but they are 3-3 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 3-5.
 
Break Time
Through 14 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime seven times. In those games, the Muleriders are 5-2. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 1-6.
 
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 76.9 points per game, which ranks 4th in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (62/4.4) and steals (132/9.4)
? - Chauncy Williams is leading the team in scoring (15.5 ppg) since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 20 three-pointers in six games played for an average of 3.3 makes/game
? - Alre'k Brown's 17 rebounds vs. Central Baptist were the most in a game since 2003
? - Nemo Sanchez has made five (5) or more three-pointers in a game three (3) times.