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Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (9-8, 5-6 GAC) |
vs. Southwestern Oklahoma BULLDOGS (11-5, 8-2 GAC)
Thursday, January 30 @ 7:30 p.m
Weatherford, Okla. (Pioneer Cellular Event Center)
Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (SWOSU Feed) |
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Setting the Stage
The Muleriders are set to embark on their most important road swing of the season as their next four games, all conference games, will be played away from the W.T. Watson Center. This will be an important test for a Mulerider team that has played their way back into the thick of the conference standings with a pair of overtime wins at home over the last week. Additionally, the Muleriders will attempt to find success on the road. Over the past two seasons, the Muleriders are 1-13 on the road in conference play.
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.
Southwestern Oklahoma is coached by Bob Battisti, who is in his first season on the Bulldogs sidelines. Battisti most recently spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian University where he helped the program its first postseason basketball title in 30 years. Prior to his stint at OCU, Battisti spent 25 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State, coaching the men's basketball team for 21 seasons before taking over as the school's athletic director for four years. In more than 24 years as a head coach, Battisti has a career record of 420-301.
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of a 118-57 blowout win over Champion Baptist on Tuesday night. The win was the Muleriders' third consecutive after they picked up a pair of thrilling overtime wins a week ago.
Last Time vs. Southwestern Oklahoma (November 23, 2013)
Thursday night's game will be the second time this season that the Muleriders and Bulldogs will share the same court. The first meeting came back in late November in Magnolia and it was the Bulldogs who came away with a 76-68 win.
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play Thursday with a 5-6 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.
Southwestern Oklahoma enters Thursday's game atop the GAC men's basketball standings with an 8-2 GAC record.
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 % (.669) and blocked shots/per game (48/3.0).
Brown is also the team leader in rebounds/per game (128/8.0). In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game and FG %, while ranking 4th 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 42 trifectas. His 42 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 (15.2 ppg) during that time.
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.
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 72 shots for an average of 4.2 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 48 blocks and 3.0 blocks per game.
Reaching the Century Mark
The Muleriders have reached the century mark in scoring three times this season, making it six times under second year head coach Andy Sharpe that the Muleriders have achieved that feat. The six 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 10 game since, the Muleriders are shooting 68% from the FT line and have lifted their season % to 65%. 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. Eight of their nine wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
Playing the Percentages
Through 17 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just over 46% (475-of-1025) from the floor, which ranks them third in the GAC. In eight games, the Muleriders have shot over 45%, but they are 5-3 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 4-5.
Break Time
Through 17 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime eight times. In those games, the Muleriders are 6-2. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 3-6.
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 80.4 points per game, which ranks 1st in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (72/4.2) and steals (166/9.8)
? - Chauncy Williams is leading the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 29 three-pointers in seven games played for an average of 3.2 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 four (4) times.
