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Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (10-11, 6-9 GAC) |
vs. Southern Nazarene CRIMSON STORM (10-10, 8-6 GAC)
Thursday, February 13 @ 7:30 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 return home after a 1-3 Oklahoma road swing. The return home will be a welcomed one as the Muleriders are 8-4within the confines of the W.T. Watson Center. In their last game, the Muleriders kept their GAC Tournament hopes in good standing as they outlasted Southeastern Oklahoma for a pivotal 82-79 win.
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.
Southern Nazarene is coached by Adam Bohac. Now in his sixth season at Southern Nazarene, Bohac had led the Crimson Storm to three consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearances before the Strom moved into NCAA Division II and the Great American Conference. In his first season coaching at the DII level, Bohac led the Crimson Storm to a 15-13 overall record and a 9-11 mark in the GAC.
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of an 82-79 road win at Southeastern Oklahoma in their most recent action. In that game, sophomore forward Jeffrey Walker scored a season-high 30 points to help lift the Muleriders to the crucial win.
The final five minutes of that game would be close as the lead changed hands three times. The final of those lead changes went in favor of the Muleriders as Duke Reed layed one in with 1:55 to go to give SAU a one-point lead, 78-77. That go-ahead bucket would prove to be the eventual game-winner as the Muleriders eventually came away with a three-point win, 82-79.
While Walker's 30 points jumps off the stat sheet, two other Muleriders had great offensive games as Duke Reed and Chauncy Williams also scored in double figures. Williams would do much of his damage from the three-point line as 18 of his 23 points came from long range. Reed was 4-of-7 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line as he scored 13 points.
Helping pace all of those outstanding offensive numbers on Saturday was point guard Tyrell Taylor. Taylor would dish out a season-high 13 assists for the Muleriders. Those 13 dimes were the most in a game for a Mulerider since Rodney Hill collected 11 assists against Delta State on December 3, 2011.
Last Time vs. Southern Nazarene (January 11, 2014)
The last time these two teams met was back on January 11 in Bethany. In that game, the Crimson Storm went on a second-half surge to work past the Muleriders, 84-70.
Four Muleriders ended in double figures with Nemo Sanchez leading the way with 15 points off the bench. All of Sanchez's points were accounted for beyond the arc as he was 5-of-9 from three-point territory. Behind Sanchez in scoring was Jeffrey Walker as he scored 13 points. Alre'k Brown and Chauncy Williams were next with 11 points each.
As a team, the Muleriders shot 46% (25-of-57) overall from the floor while the Crimson Storm shot 51% (24-of-47). A glaring statistical edge that favored the SNU came from the beyond the arc as the Crimson Storm knocked down 13-of-27 (48%) three-pointers compared to the Muleriders' 7-of-20 (35%).
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play Thursday with a 6-9 record in the GAC and currently sits in eighth-place in the standings. If the season were to end today, the Muleriders would be in the No.7 seed in the tournament.
Southern Nazarene enters play tonight with an 8-6 record in the GAC and currently sits in a tie for fourth-place in the standings. Due to their provisional status in the GAC, however, the Crimson Storm are not eligible for the GAC Tournament and their standings do not count toward 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 3rd 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 48 trifectas. His 48 made three-pointers are 9th 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 three games played. Five times Williams has scored 22 or more points.
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 78 shots for an average of 3.7 blocks per game. The blocks per game are 3rd 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 14 game since, the Muleriders are shooting 68% from the FT line and have lifted their season % to 66%., ranking them eighth in the GAC. 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 10 wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
Playing the Percentages
Through 21 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting 46% (573-of-1246) from the floor, which ranks them fourth in the GAC. In 10 games, the Muleriders have shot over 45%, but they are 6-4 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 4-7.
Break Time
Through 21 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime 11 times. In those games, the Muleriders are 7-4. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 3-7.
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 79.5 points per game, which ranks 1st in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC steals (176/9.3)
? - Chauncy Williams is averaging 15.2 ppg since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 44 three-pointers in 13 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 four (4) times.
? - Tyrell Taylor's 13 assists against SE Oklahoma were the most in a game since 2011?
