SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS (14-7, 10-5 GAC)

EAST CENTRAL TIGERS (15-7, 9-5 GAC)

Thursday, February 12 | 7:30 P.M. W.T. Watson Center | Magnolia, Ark. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO SAU GAME NOTES | ECU GAME NOTES

 

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SETTING THE STAGE
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team is back home for a pivotal two-game homestand as they are set to take on East Central on Thursday evening and then Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon at the W.T. Watson Center. Entering each game, the Muleriders will be looking for the season-sweep as just over a month ago, SAU picked up huge road wins over both ECU (59-58) and SWOSU (81-73). Additionally, the Muleriders will look to remain in contention for a GAC Regular Season Championship as they enter play this weekend tied for second-place.
 

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SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL
The East Central men's basketball team enters play with a 15-7 overall record and are in third-place in the GAC at 9-5 in league play. The Tigers are coming off of a one-point loss, 71-70, to Arkansas-Monticello at home in their last game.

Statistically, the Tigers are averaging 78.5 points per game and are shooting 48% (575-of-1,1204) overall from the floor. Their scoring per game ranks first in the GAC while their shooting percentage ranks second in the league. Currently three Tigers are averaging double figures in scoring, with Stirling Thomas leading the way at 20.0 ppg. Thomas is also the GAC's top scorer. Next in scoring is Henry Pwono at 15.2 ppg and Braxton Reeves at 13.6 ppg.

As a team, the Tigers rank second in the GAC in shooting from beyond the arc at 39% (192-of-491) and are sixth in the league at the free throw line at 69% (386-of-557).

Defensively, the Tigers are allowing their opponents to score an average of 70.6 points per game while also allowing a 44% (559-of-1,273) success rate from the floor. Their opponents' points per game average ranks in a tie for fifth in the GAC and their +7.9 scoring margin ranks second.

In terms of rebounding, the Tigers rank 11th in the GAC with 33.2 boards per game. On the other end of the court, the Tigers are allowing 36.0 boards per game and their -2.8 rebounding margin ranks 11th in the GAC.

As far as steals and assists, the Tigers rank second and third in the respective categories. On the year, ECU is averaging 7.9 steals per game while averaging 15.0 assists.

COACH
The Tigers are coached by Ja Havens, who is in his second season at East Central. In his first year at ECU, Havens guided the Tigers to a 15-12 overall record and their first appearance in the GAC Tournament as well. Prior to coming to ECU, Havens was an assistant coach at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. for eight seasons. In his final season with the Panthers, Havens helped lead Drury to a Division II National Championship.

LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met up was back in early Janaury in Ada. In that game, defense shined for both teams as each were held under 60 points, some 10-12 points shy of their season averages heading into the game. While the team scoring was held down, SAU's Jaron Davis would finish with over half of the Muleriders's points as he scored 30. Davis' 29th and 30th points came in a pressure-packed situation as he buried a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds left in the game and the Muleriders down by one.

THE SERIES
This is the 20th meeting all-time between the Tigers and the Muleriders in a series that dates back to the 1930-31 season. Overall, ECU holds a 12-7 advantage over SAU. Since the 2011-12 season, these two teams have met twice a year as charter members of the Great American Conference. In that time, ECU holds a slim 4-3 edge.

ON TAP
The Muleriders remain at home and are set to welcome in Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, February 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Center
 

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SAU NOTES
YEAR THREE OF THE PROCESS
Head coach Andy Sharpe is now in his third year at SAU and he looks to have his program make another step in the right direction in 2014-15. Last year saw many improvements within the program as the win total increased from the year prior, but also last year saw the Muleriders win their first conference tournament game since the 1999-2000 season. This year, Shapre returns five players from a year ago along with adding nine talented newcomers to the mix.

HOME SWEET HOME
Under the direction of head coach Andy Sharpe, the W.T. Watson Center has been a place where the Muleriders show up to play and expect to win. Since the start of the 2012-13 season (Sharpe's first), the Muleriders are 29-13 overall inside the W.T. Watson Center, including being 10-2 at home this season.

LEARNING TO WIN ON THE ROAD
As the Mulerider basketball program continues to build itself towards becoming a championship-level program, learning to win on the road is the essential next step within the building process. Since Head Coach Andy Sharpe took over at SAU prior to the 2012-13 season, the Muleriders are 7-25 overall on the road and 6-22 away from the W.T. Watson Center against GAC opponents.

WILLIAMS W/THE "HOT" HAND FROM DEEP
In SAU's game against Texas A&M-Commerce (12/1), Chauncy Williams buried eight three-pointers. The eight makes from long range were the most by a Mulerider since the 2006-07 season when former player Brandon Williams hit eight trifectas as well. So far this season, Williams has made 57 threepointers in 18 games played (3.2 makes/game), which ranks him second in the GAC in three-point FG made.

BACK-TO-BACK GAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
One week after Chauncy Williams won GAC Co-Player of the Week, junior guard Jaron Davis made it back-to-back weeks for SAU basketball as he averaged 27.0 ppg and led the Muleriders to a pair of road GAC wins, propelling them into first-place. 

RUNNING THE POINT
After not starting SAU's opening game, but eventually logging 38 minutes in the overtime loss to Southern Nazarene, junior transfer Jaron Davis has started the last 20 games at point guard for the Muleriders. In those 20 games, the Muleriders are 14-6 and Davis has been a scorer as well as a distributor as he his averaging 16.4 points per game and 3.8 assists in that time.

JORDAN JOINING THE MIX
Junior forward Kevin Jordan has been a welcomed edition to the Muleriders' rotation since becoming eligible at the conclusion of the fall semester. In 15 games played thus far, Jordan, a 6-10 post presence, has averaged 23.0 minutes per game. In his time on the court, Jordan is averaging 6.1 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game as well.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?!
Senior forward Alre'k Brown returns after his dominant junior campaign in which he burst onto the scene for the SAU basketball team as he established himself as one of the best big men in the GAC. In that breakout year, Brown would rank in the top-five in the league in Blocked Shots (1st | 2.4 bpg), Field Goal % (3rd | .626), and total Rebounding
(4th | 7.4 rpg) while also ranking 16th in the GAC in scoring with 12.4 ppg. This season, Brown is currently averaging 13.2 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. His .633 shooting percentage (107-of-169) ranks first on the team and second in the GAC.

CAREER WIN #200
On January 15, Southern Arkansas head men's basketball coach Andy Sharpe picked up his 200th career victory in SAU's 81-42 drubbing of Champion Baptist. Coach Sharpe is now in his third season at SAU and 10th season overall on the sidelines.

NEW GAC SCORING RECORD SET
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team set a new Great American Conference record for points scored in a game against a GAC opponent as the Muleriders routed Arkansas Tech 109-80 on January 29.