Box Score

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team trailed by 21 points with just over 10 minutes left to play in the game, before they launched a furious comeback effort against Arkansas Tech on Saturday evening in the Tucker Coliseum. The strong comeback attempt would fall short, however, as Arkansas Tech held on for a 74-70 win.
 
The Muleriders (11-13, 7-11 GAC) grabbed the game's first lead as Jeffrey Walker knocked down a jumper at the 19:31 mark of the first half. That early and slim lead would prove to be the lone scoring advantage that the Muleriders would hold the rest of the game as the Wonder Boys (17-8, 12-5 GAC) captured their one and only lead at the 17:47 mark of the first half.
 
Once in the lead, the Wonder Boys gradually grew it out to double digits midway through the first half before heading into the break with a 13-point lead, 38-25.
 
Early in the second half, the Wonder Boys continued to build upon their lead, stretching it out to 20 points, 47-27, with 16:26 remaining in the game.  The Muleriders would cut their deficit to as little as 14 points a couple of minutes later, but the Wonder Boys eventually brought their lead back out to 20 points with 12 minutes even left in the game. A little over a minute later, SAU found themselves down by their largest margin, 21 points, 58-37, after ATU's Clarke Overlander hit a three-pointer with 10:43 to go.
 
At that point, however, the Muleriders began their all-out comeback attempt. Over the next six minutes of the game, the Muleriders would go on a 17-4 run to get back to within single digits, 62-54. A layup by the Wonder Boys' Marshawn Arnold at the 4:26 mark made it a 10-point Tech lead, 64-54, but the Muleriders would score six straight points over the next 2:41 of the game to get to within four points, 64-60.
 
That would be as close as the Muleriders would get, however, as the Wonder Boys held off the surge and eventually claimed a four-point win, 74-70.
 
Four Muleriders would score in double figures with Duke Reed leading the way with a career-high 22 points. Reed also picked up his first double-double of the season as he pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. Walker followed in scoring with 12 points while Alre'k Brown and Chauncy Williams each added 10 points.
 
The Muleriders will now prepare for their final road game of the regular season as they travel to Monticello on Thursday, February 27 to take on Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.