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SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
5-3 (3-1 GAC)
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CENTRAL BAPTIST
MUSTANGS
7-3 (4-2 AMC)
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(RV) TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
LIONS
9-2 (3-1 LSC)
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team is back in action for the first time in nearly a month as they are at home this week to host Central Baptist College on Thursday and Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday. The Muleriders have been in a 26-day layoff with their last competitive action coming on December 3 on the road at Southwestern Oklahoma.
These games will also be SAU's first games at home since November 26 when the Muleriders defeated Williams Baptist by a score of 79-38. Additionally, these will be SAU's final two non-conference games on the schedule as they are set to resume Great American Conference play the first weekend in January.
MULERIDER NEWS & NOTES
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 5-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the GAC. On the season, the Muleriders are averaging 73.8 points per game, which ranks 10th in the GAC. Defensively, the Muleriders rank first in scoring defense in the GAC at 66.2 points per game, and their +7.5 scoring margin ranks fourth in the league.
As a team, the Muleriders are shooting .442 (202-of-457) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .300 (45-of-150) from long range. From the free throw line, the Muleriders are shooting .691 (141-of-204). Their overall field goal percentage ranks eighth in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks 12th. At the charity stripe the Muleriders' percentage ranks eighth.
Individually, the Muleriders have two players who are averaging double figures in scoring with
CJ Elkins leading the team at 17.1 points per game. Elkins' scoring average ranks eighth in the GAC.
Snyder Cenecharles is next on the team at 10.6 ppg.
The leading rebounder on the team is
Denarious Lockhart with 8.3 rpg. Elkins is the top assist man on the team with an average of 2.4 assists per game.
COACH
The Muleriders are coached by
Andy Sharpe, who is in his fifth season at Southern Arkansas. In his time at SAU, Sharpe has amassed a 58-60 overall record.
Over the past two seasons, Sharpe has begun to turn the Muleriders into serious contenders in the GAC as SAU has won 24 conference games and have finished in the top half of the standings each year as well. Overall in the past two seasons, Sharpe has guided the Muleriders to a 32-25 record while also posting consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.
SCOUTING CENTRAL BAPTIST
The Central Baptist men's basketball team enters play with a 7-3 overall record and are 4-2 in the American Midwest Conference. The Mustangs have won their last three games and will be playing their third game of the year against a NCAA Division II team.
As a team, the Mustangs are shooting .467 (320-of-685) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .338 (75-of-222) from long range. From the free throw line, the Mustangs are shooting .631 (159-of-252). Their overall field goal percentage ranks tied for sixth in the AMC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks seventh. At the charity stripe the Mustangs' percentage ranks ninth.
So far this season, the Mustangs are averaging 87.4 points per game offensively, and are allowing a 76.0 points per game defensively. Their points per game scoring ranks third in the AMC while their scoring defense per game ranks ninth.
Four Mustangs are averaging double-figures in scoring with Jayln McBride leading the team with 15.1 points per game. Fred Albright is next at 12.3 ppg. Mike Evans is the team's leading rebounder at 7.9 rebounds per game. McBride is the team's top assist man at 2.1 assists per game.
COACH
The Mustangs are coached by Wes Sullivan, who is in his fourth season at Central Baptist. In his time at CBC, Sullivan has amassed a 37-58 overall record.
LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
Last year, SAU and CBC met once with SAU claiming an 84-65 win at home.
THE SERIES
This is the ninth meeting between SAU and CBC since the start of the 1997-98 season. During that time, SAU holds an 8-0 series lead. This will also be the sixth-straight year that the two will have played.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
The Texas A&M-Commerce basketball team enters play this Saturday with a 9-2 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the Lone Star Conference. The Lions are coming off of a 10-point road loss at East Central. Prior to that, the Lions has won three-straight.
On the season, the Lions are averaging 89.2 points per game, which ranks third in the LSC. Defensively, the Lions are allowing 76.1 points per game, ranking their scoring defense seventh in the LSC. Their +13.1 scoring margin ranks fifth in the league.
As a team, the Lions are shooting .468 (344-of-735) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .343 (80-of-233) from long range. From the free throw line, the Lions are shooting .674 (213-of-316). Their overall field goal percentage ranks fifth in the LSC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks sixth. At the charity stripe the Lions' percentage ranks sixth.
Individually, two Lions are averaging double figures with Malik Albert leads the way at 19.0 points per game. Dorian Armstrong is the team's leading rebounder at 7.5 boards per game. Trey Seymore is the leading assist man on the team at 3.1 assists per game.
COACH
The Lions are coached by Sam Walker, who is in his 17th season at Texas A&M-Commerce. In his 16 previous seasons, Walker has led the Lions to a 266-191 overall record and in 10 seasons, the Lions have won at least 15 games. Of those years, the Lions have won 20 or more games twice.
LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
This is the second meeting of the year between SAU and Texas A&M-Commerce with the initial meeting coming at Commerce prior to Thanksgiving. In that game, A&M-Commerce pulled away late for an 84-75 win.
THE SERIES
This is the 28th meeting between SAU and TAMU-C since the 1997-98 season. During that time, TAMU-C holds a commanding 24-3 lead. SAU's last win over Commerce came in 2004 as the Lions have won the last 15 meetings.
