ALVA, Okla. – Trailing by a point at the break, the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team used a dominant second half effort on both sides of the ball to surge ahead and eventually close out a 77-69 win on the road at Northwestern Oklahoma on Thursday night inside the Perceful Fieldhouse in Alva.
 
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (5-2, 3-0 GAC)
Northwestern Oklahoma Rangers (2-4, 0-3 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening half between SAU and NWOSU was the definition of a back-and-forth affair as the first 20 minutes of action featured five tie scores and seven lead changes. The Rangers benefited from the final lead change of the half, which took place with 1:36 left on the clock, as NWOSU took a one-point lead into the break, 38-37.
• Additionally, the largest lead for either team in the half was a seven-point SAU lead at the 7:09 mark.  
• The score remained close early in the second half as neither team's lead was larger than four points through the first eight minutes of action. The Muleriders were the first to break past that barrier at the 11:37 mark as Snyder Cenecharles hit a painted jumper to put SAU up by six points, 54-48.
• Shortly thereafter, the Muleriders went on to extend that lead out to double-digits, 58-48, with 10:47 showing on the clock thanks to a pair of free throws by KJ Collins and a dunk by CJ Elkins.
• Over the next three minutes or so of game time, the Muleriders continued to gain separation from the Rangers as the lead swelled to its peak of 14 points with 7:55 left in the game.
• SAU maintained a double-digit lead until the 2:38 mark as NWOSU's Hunter Frisby buried a three-pointer to make it a nine-point game, 70-61.
• From there, the game came down to free throws and the Muleriders were able to salt away the game by making good on 7-of-8 attempts from the charity stripe over the final 1:37

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Muleriders enjoyed their most-efficient offensive game of the season as they shot 58% overall from the floor (23-of-40). Conversely, the SAU defense was stout once more as they held the Ranger to just 34% shooting overall (21-of-62). It was the fourth game this season that the SAU defense has limited their opponent to a 35% field goal percentage or worse. In those games, the Muleriders are 4-0.
• SAU continued to get quality play from its reserves as they got 36 points off the bench. DeSean Dockery was a key cog in that output as he scored a team-high 17 points. It was the third-straight game in which SAU's leading scorer came off of the bench.
• After shooting just over 50% from the free throw line in the first half, the Muleriders locked in more at the line in the second half when it mattered most, making good on 76% of the attempts over the final 20 minutes.

 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now begin their trek back to the Natural State, but first SAU will stop off in Weatherford, Okla. for a Saturday afternoon contest with Southwestern Oklahoma. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 3 p.m.