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Southern Arkansas MULERIDERS (9-10, 5-8 GAC) |
at East Central TIGERS (12-7, 9-4 GAC)
Thursday, February 6 @ 7:30 p.m
Ada, Okla. (Kerr Activities Center)
Live Audio (SAU Feed) | Live Stats | Live Video (ECU Feed) |
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Setting the Stage
The Muleriders look to move back to .500 on the year with a win against East Central on Thursday evening. The Muleriders will also be looking to exact some revenge on the Tigers as ECU came to Magnolia in early January and defeated SAU by a score of 67-56.
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.
East Central is coached by first-year head coach Ja Havens. Prior to coming to ECU, Havens spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Drury University. This past season Havens helped guide the Drury Panthers to the NCAA DII National Championship.
Last Time Out
The Muleriders are coming off of an 83-89 loss on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma this past Saturday. In that game, the Muleriders attempted a second-half comeback after falling behind by 14 points at halftime. Their comeback charge resulted in a tie score at the 7:24 mark, but the Rangers knocked down several free throws down the stretch to stave off the Muleriders.
Four Muleriders scored in double figures with Chauncy Williams leading the way with 23 points. Behind him was Walker with 19 points and Tyrell Taylor with 18 points. Duke Reed rounded out double-figure scoring with 16 points.
Last Time vs. East Central (January 4, 2014)
Early shooting woes were too much for the Muleriders to overcome in the first meeting between these two teams as East Central won the game, 67-56. In that game, the Muleriders made just one of their first 15 shots in the game and fell into a quick double-digit hole. SAU would start to knock down shots after the early drought and came as close as three points with 4:50 left in the game.
Two Muleriders scored in double-figures as Chauncy Williams came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points. Tyrell Taylor was just behind Williams with 13 points. Jeffrey Walker nearly missed out on his second double-double of the year as he led the team with 11 rebounds and scored nine points.
Checking the Standings
Southern Arkansas enters play Thursday with a 5-8 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.
East Central enters play Thursday with a 9-4 mark in the GAC and are currently in second-place in the standings.
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 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 43 trifectas. His 43 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. Four 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 4.1 blocks per game. The blocks per game are tops 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 12 game since, the Muleriders are shooting 68% from the FT line and have lifted their season % to 65%., ranking them seventh 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 nine wins this season have come when they have scored more points in the paint.
Playing the Percentages
Through 19 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team is shooting just over 46% (522-of-1135) from the floor, which ranks them fourth in the GAC. In nine games, the Muleriders have shot over 45%, but they are 5-4 in such games. When the Muleriders do not shot over 45% in a game, they are currently 4-6.
Break Time
Through 19 games this season, the SAU men's basketball team has taken a lead into halftime nine times. In those games, the Muleriders are 6-3. When they do not lead at the break, the Muleriders are currently 3-7.
Did You Know?!
? - The Muleriders are currently averaging 79.6 points per game, which ranks 1st in the GAC?
? - The Muleriders rank 1st in the GAC in blocked shots (78/4.1) and steals (176/9.3)
? - Chauncy Williams is averaging 13.7 ppg) since he joined the active roster
? - Williams has made 35 three-pointers in seven games played for an average of 3.1 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.
