MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Five players would score in double figures and two others would score at least eight points as the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team worked past Central Baptist College in non-conference action inside the W.T. Watson Center on Tuesday night.
Early in the game, the Muleriders (2-1) found themselves in a tight battle with the visiting Mustangs (3-5) as SAU did not grab their first lead until 16:38 left in the first half. Over the next eight minutes of game time, the score would be tied five times and the lead would change hands four times. Eventually SAU would gain control of the remainder of the first half and took an eight-point lead into the break, 40-32.
In the second half, the Muleriders would quickly stretch their lead out to double digits as a jumper in the paint by
James Evans gave SAU an 11-point lead, 48-37, with 17:31 remaining. A quick 5-2 burst by the Mustangs would bring them as close as six points with 16:07 left on the clock, but the Muleriders would re-establish control in the game, stretching their lead back out to double digits the rest of the way out before ending with a 25-point victory, 85-60.
Junior guard
Jaron Davis would lead the Muleriders in scoring on the night as he scored 16 points on 3-of-7 shooting. Seven of Davis' 16 points came from the free throw line. It was the second game this season that Davis has led the team in scoring. Behind Davis was
Chauncy Williams with 12 points on 4-of-7 seven shooting. Nine of Williams' points came from beyond the arc as he was 3-of-5 from long range. Rounding out the double-figure scoring for SAU were
DJ Frye,
James Evans, and
Tyrell Taylor. Frye and Evans would score 11 points while Taylor had 10.
As a team, the Muleriders would shot 52% from the floor (31-of-60). The Muleriders would also dominate in some specialty categories as they had 31 points off of turnovers compared to 12 for CBC, they out-scored the Mustangs 40-16 in the paint, and the Muleriders would score 16 second-chance points compared just one second-chance point for the Mustangs.
The Muleriders will now prepare for their first road game of the season as they travel to Commerce, Texas on Monday, December 1 to take on Texas A&M-Commerce. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
