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GAME NOTES | SAU | ATU |

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Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team takes to the road once more on Saturday as they venture to Russellville to take on Arkansas Tech. As the Muleriders hit the road, they will be taking with them a three-game winning streak after they beat Henderson State 79-71 in their most recent action on Thursday.

The win for the Muleriders came inside the friendly confines of the W.T. Watson Center and was their first game at home in over a month. It was also the Muleriders' first conference win at home this season after dropping their first two games back in early December.

This will be the first matchup between the Muleriders and Wonder Boys this season with the two defending their home court as they split the season series a year ago.
 

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MULERIDER NEWS & NOTES
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team enters play this Thursday with a 7-6 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the Great American Conference. The Muleriders are riding a season-long three-game winning streak that started back on January 7 at Oklahoma Baptist. Prior to that, the Muleriders were mired in a season-long four-game skid.

On the season, the Muleriders are averaging 77.5 points per game, which ranks fifth in the GAC. Defensively, the Muleriders rank fifth in scoring defense in the GAC at 73.8 points per game, and their +3.7 scoring margin ranks fourth in the league.

As a team, the Muleriders are shooting .458 (370-of-807) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .353 (96-of-272) from long range. From the free throw line, the Muleriders are shooting .629 (171-of-272). Their overall field goal percentage ranks third in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks seventh. At the charity stripe the Muleriders' percentage ranks 11th.

Individually, the Muleriders have four players who are averaging double figures in scoring with Jaron Davis leading the team at 16.2 points per game. Davis's scoring average ranks eighth in the GAC. CJ Elkins is next on the team at 12.5 ppg and just behind Elkins is Deon Andrews with 12.2 ppg . Rounding out double-figure scoring on the season is Denarious Lockhart at 11.4 ppg.

The leading rebounder on the team in terms of rebounding average in Lockhart with 7.0 rpg through five games played. Alvin Braddock, however, leads the team in total rebounds with 82. Davis is the top assist man on the team with an average of 4.8 assists per game.

COACH
The Muleriders are coached by Andy Sharpe, who is in his fourth season at Southern Arkansas. In his time at SAU, Sharpe has amassed a 41-51 overall record. Last season Sharpe led SAU to a 15-12 overall record and finished tied for third in the GAC with an 11-9 mark in the league. The above .500 season was the program's first winning campaign since the 2001-02 season, while the 15 wins overall tied for the second-most wins in a season since SAU joined NCAA Division II prior to the 1995-96 season. Additionally, the 11 conference wins were the most in the DII era.
 

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SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH
The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team enters play this Saturday with a 9-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the Great American Conference. The Wonder Boys will also be coming into the game having lost their last two games as they came up on the short end on the road at East Central and Ouachita.

On the season, the Wonder Boys are averaging 76.9 points per game, which ranks 6th in the GAC. Defensively, the Wonder Boys rank fourth in scoring defense in the GAC at 72.6 points per game, and their +4.3 scoring margin ranks third in the league.

As a team, the Wonder Boys are shooting .446 (350-of-785) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .353 (109-of-309) from long range. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .663 (191-of-288). Their overall field goal percentage ranks fourth in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks eighth. At the charity stripe the Wonder Boys' percentage ranks 9th.

Individually, the Wonder Boys have three players who are averaging double figures in scoring with Marquis Yates leading the team at 14.8 points per game. Yates' scoring average ranks fifth in the GAC. Tyler Corley is next in double figures on the team at 11.3 ppg. while Andrew Guillory rounds out double-digit scoring at 10.3 ppg.

Nick Wayman is the leading rebounder on the team at 7.2 rebounds per game. Freddy Lee is the top assist man on the team with an average of 2.5 assists per game.

COACH
The Wonder Boys are coached by Chad Kline, who is in his second season at Arkansas Tech. In his first season at the helm, Kline led the Wonder Boys to an 18-14 overall record which was highlighted by a GAC Conference Tournament Championship. Prior to being named the head coach at Tech, Kline was an assistant coach in the program for three years under former head man Doug Karleskint.
 

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THE SERIES
This will be the 38th meeting since the beginning of the 1997-98 season between the Muleriders and the Wonder Boys. In that time, the Wonder Boys have a 24-13 advantage over the Muleriders which includes a 13-2 record in games played at Tucker Coliseum.

ON TAP
The Muleriders will remain on the road and prepare to play their third game in five days as they take on Arkansas-Monticello on "Rivalry Monday" in the GAC. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.