Box Score
ADA, Okla. – Leading by four points, 50-46, with 15:31 left in the second half, the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team fell into a lengthy eight-minute scoring drought that left the game open for East Central. ECU would take advantage of that Mulerider scoring lull by going on a 20-0 run over that time, propelling the Tigers to an 82-74 win on Thursday night in the Kerr Activities Center.
During that game-changing stretch, East Central did not turn the ball over and the Tigers (13-7, 10-4 GAC) were 9-of-16 from the floor, including being 2-of-5 from long range. Conversely, the Muleriders (9-11, 5-9 GAC) were 0-of-9 (0-of-4 3PT) from the floor and turned the ball over twice. Additionally, the Tigers out-rebounded the Muleriders 13-5.
Prior to that tough period offensively for the Muleriders, SAU had enjoyed a lead for much of the game. In fact, the Muleriders led for more than 20 minutes in the game and held a lead as large as 14 points in the first half.
Despite the damage that was left behind from the drought, the Muleriders eventually got back on track offensively and pulled themselves back to within four points, 74-70, with just under two minutes left to play. Fueling that charge was a 10-0 run in which the Muleriders were 4-of-4 from the floor, including being 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
That push would be as close as the Muleriders could get in the waning moments of the game as the Tigers kept SAU at bay by making their final two field goal attempts and knocking down four free throws with under a minute left.
Statistically, all five starters scored in double figures for the Muleriders with
Tyrell Taylor pacing the team with a season-high 20 points.
Chauncy Williams was next with 14 points while
Duke Reed and
Nemo Sanchez each scored 12 points. Rounding out the double-figure scoring was
Jeffrey Walker with 11 points.
The Muleriders will remain on the road as they travel to Durant, Okla. to take on Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday, February 8. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
