Box Score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The potentially potent offense of the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team started slowly in Saturday's game against East Central as SAU made just one of their first 15 shots from the field over the first 10:23 of the game. That cold start would prove to be too much to overcome as ECU would maintain a lead throughout en route to handing the Muleriders a 67-56 loss.
 
Despite the early shooting woes, the Muleriders (5-5, 2-3 GAC) ended the first half with a 30% shooting percentage as they went 8-of-15 (53%) over the final 10 minutes of the opening half. SAU would continue to improve upon their shooting in the second half as they shot 40% (12-of-30) from the field. All told, the Muleriders would shot 35% (21-of-60) from the floor.
 
While the ball was not falling through early in the game for the Muleriders, it seemed to do nothing but fall in for the Tigers (7-5, 4-2 GAC). Over the first 10 minutes of the game, the Tigers opened up a 19-3 lead thanks to 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from long range.
 
That sizable lead for the Tigers would remain through the end of the first half as ECU took a 14-point lead into the break, 40-26. A quick 7-2 run to start the second half raced the Tigers out to their largest lead of the game, 19 points, 47-28. ECU would keep a double-digit lead over the Muleriders until midway through the second half.
 
With 13:40 left in the game, the Muleriders began to make a hard push in the game as they used the next 10 minutes of play to go on a 17-5 run to pull to within three points, 54-51. During that stretch, SAU was 6-of-13 from the field while ECU was only 2-of-12.
 
That furious run would be as close as the Muleriders could get in the game as the Tigers started a 7-0 run to stretch the lead back out to double-digits. The Tigers would eventually end the game with an 11-point margin of victory, 67-56.
 
Two Muleriders scored in double-figures as Chauncy Williams came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points. Tyrell Taylor was just behind Williams with 13 points. Jeffrey Walker nearly missed out on his second double-double of the year as he led the team with 11 rebounds and scored nine points.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare to hit the road in a week from today as they travel to Bethany, Okla. to take on Southern Nazarene. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 4 p.m.