Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (11-13, 7-11 GAC)

at Arkansas-Monticello BOLL WEEVILS (17-9, 10-8 GAC) Thursday, February 27 @ 7:30 p.m Monticello, Ark. (Steelman Field House) Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (UAM Feed)

---

GAME NOTES (PDF)

Setting the Stage
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team secured their spot in the Great American Conference Tournament for the third consecutive year by way of a Southeastern Oklahoma loss to Arkansas Tech on Monday, February 24.  Now that they have earned a berth, the Muleriders will look to better their standing in the tournament seeding over their final two games of the regular season. First up, is their final road game of the regular season as they travel to Monticello to take on Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday, February 27.
 
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.
 
Arkansas-Monticello is coached by Allen Sharpe. Now in his fourth season at UAM, Sharpe has compiled a 51-33 record in his first three full seasons. Prior to coming UAM, Sharpe spent five seasons (2005-10) as the head coach at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala., where he guided the program to an overall record of 136-30. 
 
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of a 70-74 loss on the road to Arkansas Tech.  In that game, the Muleriders trailed by 21 points with just over 10 minutes left to play in the game, before they launched a furious comeback effort. The strong comeback attempt would fall short, however, as Arkansas Tech held on for a 74-70 win. 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.
 
Last Time vs. Arkansas-Monticello (January 23, 2014)
The last time these two teams met was back on January 23 in Magnolia. In that game, with less than two seconds left in regulation, Southern Arkansas' Jeffrey Walker slipped behind the Arkansas-Monticello defense and put-back a thunderous dunk to send the game to overtime. In that extra period, SAU was down by one-point, 97-96, with less than 10 seconds left when freshman guard Reece Dunlap buried the biggest three-pointer of his young career, giving the Muleriders a thrilling 99-97 overtime win over the Boll Weevils.
 
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play Thursday with a 7-11 record in the GAC and currently sits in eighth-place in the standings. If the season were to end today, however, the Muleriders would be in a tie for the No. 6 seed in the tournament as provisional GAC members, Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma are ahead of SAU in the standings.
 
Arkansas-Monticello enters play tonight with a 10-8 record in the GAC and currently sits in fifth-place in the standings. If the season were to end today, the Boll Weevils would be the No. 4-seed.
 
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 % (.645) and blocked shots/per game (51/2.6). Brown is also the team leader in rebounds per game (7.7). In those same categories, Brown ranks first in the GAC in blocks/per game while ranking third in FG % and 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 57 trifectas. His 57 made three-pointers are 6th 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 89 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 2.6 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 17 game since, the Muleriders are shooting 67% 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 11 wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
 
Playing the Percentages
Through 24 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting 46% (648-of-1417) from the floor, which ranks them third in the GAC. In 11 games, the Muleriders have shot over 45%, but they are 7-4 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 4-9.
 
Break Time
Through 24 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime 12 times. In those games, the Muleriders are 7-5. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 4-8.
 
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 78.2 points per game, which ranks 1st in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC steals (210/8.8)
? - Chauncy Williams is averaging 14.3 ppg since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 52 three-pointers in 16 games played for an average of 3.3 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 (5) times.
? - Tyrell Taylor's 13 assists against SE Oklahoma were the most in a game since 2011?