ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking 77-76 loss in the waning moments of Saturday's regular season finale at Henderson State as HSU made the go-ahead layup with three just seconds left on the clock to edge SAU.
 
Despite the loss, SAU (15-11, 11-9 GAC) concludes the regular season in third-place in the Great American Conference and will take on No. 6-seed Harding University in the opening round of the GAC Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 6 at noon. Additionally, the Muleriders are assured to finish the 2014-15 campaign with a winning record for the first time since the 2001-02 season when they finished that season 16-10.
 
In Saturday's game, play between the two GAC rivals was tight and back-and-forth, especially in the first half as there were five tie scores and nine lead changes over the opening 20 minutes. The Muleriders would grab the final lead change of the first half at the 4:44 mark on a three-pointer by Jaron Davis. Leading the remainder of the first half, SAU would take a three-point lead, 41-38, into the locker room.
 
Early in the second half, Henderson would grab a two-point lead, 45-43, on a three-point basket by Kelvin Dixon at the 17:42 mark. On SAU's ensuing trip down the court, however, Deon Andrews put the Muleriders back on top with a three-pointer of his own.
 
From there until the Reddies (11-15, 8-12) hit the eventual game-winning shot with three seconds left, SAU had remained in the lead and extended it to as much as nine points, 65-56, with 8:26 left to play.
 
Four Muleriders would score in double figures with DJ Frye leading the way off the bench with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Behind Frye and also coming off the bench was Jaron Davis with 12 points. Chauncy Williams and Kevin Jordan rounded out double-figure scoring for the Muleriders with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Jordan also picked up his fifth overall and third-straight double-double as he matched his 10 points with 10 rebounds.
 
Again, the Muleriders will enter the GAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla. as the No. 3-seed and will take on No. 6-seed Harding University on Friday, March 6. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for noon at the Bruin Fieldhouse. For more information on the GAC Men's Basketball Tournament follow this link: http://greatamericanconference.com/sports/2015/2/5/BKB_0205154723.aspx