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Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (7-8, 4-6 GAC) |
vs. Ouachita Baptist TIGERS(6-10, 3-7 GAC)
Saturday, January 25 @ 4 p.m
Magnolia, Ark. (W.T. Watson Center)
Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (SAU Feed) |
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Setting the Stage
The Muleriders are looking build on the momentum of an emotionally-thrilling 99-97 overtime win against rival Arkansas-Monticello. The numbers are in favor of the Muleriders as they host Ouachita Baptist in the familiar confines of the W.T. Watson Center. On the year, six of the Muleriders' seven wins have come at 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.
Ouachita Baptist is coached by Dennis Nutt. Now in third season at Ouachita, Nutt has compiled a 33-24 in his first two full seasons. A former NBA player, Nutt's prior head coaching experience came in six-year stint at Division I Texas State.
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of an exciting 99-97 win at home against Arkansas-Monticello. That game was one of the closest games that the Muleriders have played in their history as there were an incredible 24 lead changes and 15 tie scores.
With less than two seconds left in regulation, Jeffrey Walker slipped behind the Arkansas-Monticello defense and put-back a thunderous dunk to send Thursday night's battle with UAM to overtime. In that extra period, SAU was down by one-point, 97-96, with less than 10 seconds left when freshman guard Reece Dunlap buried the biggest three-pointer of his young career, giving the Muleriders a thrilling 99-97 overtime win over the Boll Weevils.
An underlying storyline in the game was at the free throw line. With 60 total fouls called, the two teams would combine to shoot 92 free throws. The Muleriders, who came into the game as the 10th-best team in the GAC in free throw percentage at 63%, shot an incredible 88% (37-of-42) on Thursday night. Conversely, the Boll Weevils shot 62% (31-of-50) from the line. Seven of their 19 misses from the line came with less than two minutes left in regulation and the duration of overtime.
Last Time vs. Ouachita Baptist (December 5, 2013)
Saturday's game will be the second time this season that the Muleriders and Tigers will square off. The first meeting came back in December in Arkadelphia and the Muleriders came away with a 71-60 win. In that game, SAU held a lead as large as 17 points, but had to withstand a furious comeback effort by the Tigers.
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play this afternoon with a 4-6 record in the GAC and currently sits in seventh-place in the standings. If they season were to end today, the Muleriders would be in the No.6 seed in the tournament.
Ouachita Baptist enters today's game in ninth-place with a 3-7 GAC record. If the season were to end today, the Tigers would be the eighth and final 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 % (.672) and blocked shots/per game (44/2.9). Brown is also second on the team leader in rebounds/per game (117/7.8). In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game and FG %, while ranking 6th in rebounds.
Diaper-Dandy Dunlap
Reece Dunlap is the lone freshman on the Muleriders' roster, but that is not to say that he has not been called upon in big moments. Against UAM, Dunlap drained the game-winning three-pointer.
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 37 trifectas. His 37 made three-pointers are 5th in the GAC.
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 (16.6 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 64 shots for an average of 4.3 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 44 blocks and 2.9 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 GAC-low 61% (112-of-185) from the FT line. In the eight games since, the Muleriders are shooting 71% from the FT line and have lifted their season % to 66%. Against UAM, the Muleriders had season-highs in FTM (37) and FT% (88%).
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. six of their seven wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
Playing the Percentages
Through 15 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just over 45% (407-of-900) 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 4-5.
Break Time
Through 15 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 2-6.
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 76.9 points per game, which ranks 3rd in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (64/4.3) and steals (135/9.0)
? - Chauncy Williams is leading the team in scoring (16.6 ppg) since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 24 three-pointers in seven games played for an average of 3.4 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
