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Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (9-9, 5-7 GAC) |
vs. Northwestern Oklahoma RANGERS (6-11, 3-8 GAC)
Saturday, February 1 @ 4 p.m
Alva, Okla. (Perceful Fieldhouse)
Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (NWOSU Feed) |
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GAME NOTES ( PDF)
Setting the Stage
The Muleriders look to push themselves back over .500 with a win at Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. In their most-recent game, the Muleriders suffered a disappointing defeat to the hands of the GAC's top-ranked team, the Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs, after holding a sizable halftime lead. Saturday's game will be the second of four consecutive GAC road games for the Muleriders, who are 1-4 in the GAC on the road so far this season.
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.
Northwestern Oklahoma is coached by Andrew Brown. Now in his seventh season as the head coach of Northwestern Oklahoma, Brown has compiled a 98-79 coaching record. In his previous six seasons as head coach, Brown has coached 17 all-conference players and two all-America players.
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of a 63-72 loss on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma on Thursday night. In that game, the Muleriders led by as many as 20 points in the first half and held a sizable advantage heading into the break, but a relentless comeback effort by the Bulldogs lifted SWOSU past SAU. The leading scorer for the Muleriders was Jeffrey Walker as he scored a game-high 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 9-of-11 shooting from the free throw line. Walker also led all players in rebounds with 13 as he collected his 4th double-double of the season
Last Time vs. Northwestern Oklahoma (November 21, 2013)
The last time these two teams met was back in late November and it was both teams' first GAC game of the season. The initial meeting was a close one that needed overtime to decide a winner. In that extra period, it was the Rangers who would outlast the Muleriders for a 70-66 win.
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play Saturday with a 5-7 record in the GAC and currently sits in seventh-place in the standings. If the season were to end today, the Muleriders would be in the No.6 seed in the tournament.
Northwestern Oklahoma enters Saturday's game with a 3-8 record in the GAC and currently sits in 10th place. The Rangers, however, 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.
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 % (.659) and blocked shots/per game (49/2.8).
Brown is also the team leader in rebounds/per game (136/8.0). 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 43 trifectas. His 43 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 two games played.
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.
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 75 shots for an average of 4.1 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 49 blocks and 2.8 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 11 game since, the Muleriders are shooting 67% 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 18 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just over 46% (495-of-1077) 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 4-6.
Break Time
Through 18 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime nine times. In those games, the Muleriders are 6-3. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 3-6.
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 79.4 points per game, which ranks 1st in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (75/4.2) and steals (168/9.3)
? - Chauncy Williams is averaging 13.7 ppg) since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 29 three-pointers in seven games played for an average of 2.9 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.
