Box Score

MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Arkansas-Monticello team on Thursday night as the Boll Weevils shot 64% (32-of-50) for the game, helping propel UAM to an 89-64 win over SAU.
 
While the Boll Weevils (18-9, 11-8 GAC) enjoyed an overly-efficient and productive night shooting the ball, the Muleriders (11-14, 7-12 GAC) were not too far off pace as they shot 49% (21-of-43) themselves from the floor. The disparity, however, came in the number of shot attempts as the Boll Weevils were able to get off seven more shots than the Muleriders.
 
Another contributing factor came in the battle of the boards as UAM out-rebounded SAU by 13, 33-20. Only four of those 20 rebounds for the Muleriders came on the offensive glass while 24 of the Boll Weevils' 33 rebounds came on the defensive glass.
 
At the start of the game, the Muleriders grabbed the game's first lead on a jumper by Tyrell Taylor. Minutes later, a jumper by Alre'k Brown gave the Muleriders the largest lead they would hold in the game, three points.
 
Play remained close throughout the first half as the two South Arkansas rivals battled one another to four tie scores and three lead changes. The final of those lead changes, which came with 2:17 left in the first half, was significant as it sparked an 11-2 UAM run to close out the half; giving the Boll Weevils an eight-point lead, 44-36, at the break.
 
In the second half, the Boll Weevils would continue to knock down shots as they grew their lead out to 15 points, 56-41, with 15:22 left in the game.  A quick 7-0 Mulerider run cut the deficit to eight points, 56-48, with 13:06 remaining, but the Boll Weevils would not allow the Muleriders to get any closer than that as they re-opened a double-digit lead, eventually swelling it out to as much as 27 points before ending with a 25-point victory.
 
Three Muleriders scored in double figures with Duke Reed leading the way with 13 points. Behind Reed in scoring were Jeffrey Walker and Tre'von Wilkerson as each added 11 points.
 
The Muleriders will now return home to host Henderson State in the regular-season finale on Saturday, March 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m., but a special Senior Day ceremony honoring the Muleriders' lone senior, Duke Reed, will take place before pre-game warmups.