MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas head men's basketball coach Andy Sharpe picked up his 200th career win on Thursday night as his Muleriders defeated Champion Baptist by a score of 81-42 in front of a home crowd of 359 at the W.T. Watson Center.
 
The career coaching milestone for Sharpe comes in the midst of his third season at SAU and 10th season overall on the sidelines.
 
In Thursday night's game, Sharpe's Muleriders (10-4) would not trail at any point in the game, but SAU laid claim to a lead only as large as six-points at the half, 31-24. Coming out of the break, however, the Muleriders would shake off any shooting dust from the first half and found their rhythm offensively as they opened on a 17-4 run through the first media timeout to take a 19-point lead, 48-29.
 
During that game-defining surge, reigning GAC Player of the Week Jaron Davis would be responsible for 12 points as he knocked down a pair of trifectas and paced three transition layups. From there, the Muleriders would just continue to build upon their lead with the advantage reaching its apex of 42 points thanks to a layup by Desmond Champion with 2:33 left.
 
Statistically, all 11 active Muleriders would score in the game with senior forward Aaron Francis leading all scorers with a career-high 16 points. Francis would tie his career-high in rebounds with 13 as he registered his second career double-double. The other came against Champion Baptist as well last season as Francis went for 15 points and 13 rebounds. Additional scorers in double figures for the Muleriders were Davis at 14 and Alre'k Brown with 10.
 
In addition to all 11 players scoring in the game, all 11 would pull down at least one rebound. Francis' 13 led the team, but next was Tyrell Taylor with 10 (all defensive). As a team, the Muleriders would secure 57 boards. In terms of assists, Davis and Taylor would combine for 10 of SAU's 13 in the game with Davis dishing out six dimes and Taylor four, respectively.
 
The Muleriders will now turn their focus towards a home conference game against Northwestern Oklahoma this Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Center.