Box Score
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team was held to their lowest scoring out-put of the year as they fell in their regular season finale to Henderson State on Saturday by a score of 59-43.
While the scoring out-put for the Muleriders (11-15, 7-13 GAC) was low, the same was the case for the Reddies (12-16, 8-12 GAC) as the two teams displayed some tough defense throughout the game. Each team would be forced to turn the ball over at least 19 times with the Reddies committing 22 turnovers.
With the tight defense being played by both teams, shooting inevitably proved to be difficult as each team was held under 42% for the game. The Muleriders would bear the brunt of the tough shooting as they shot a season-low 29% overall from the floor (15-of-52). The Reddies would end the game shooting at a 41% clip overall (18-of-44), but they were held to just 33% (7-of-21) shooting in the second half.
As field goal shooting was tough to come by, the difference in the game figured to come down to the free throw line, and it was the Reddies who came out on top in that facet as they shot 75% from the charity stripe (20-of-27). On the other end, the Muleriders struggled from the line as they shot 44% (11-of-25).
12 of those made free throws by the Reddies came down the stretch as they went 12-for-12 from the line over the final 3:24 of the game, helping them ice the game.
Duke Reed, the lone senior on the Muleriders' team this season, had a solid performance in the final home game of his career as he scored seven points and pulled down seven rebounds. Reed, who played a majority of the game, also had an assist and two steals.
Despite the loss, the Muleriders will participate in the Great American Conference Tournament for the third consecutive year. The previous two seasons, SAU entered as the No. 8-seed in the tournament, but this year the Muleriders will enter as the No. 7-seed. As the No. 7-seed, the Muleriders will play their opening round game against the No. 2-seed Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs. That game is scheduled for a 2:15 p.m. tip-off on Thursday, March 6 at the Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.
