ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team rebounded tremendously well after a tough loss last Saturday by leaving little doubt in their road game against Henderson State on Thursday night as SAU blew past home-dwelling Henderson by a score of 85-61.
 
The domination put on display by the Muleriders (12-10, 9-7 GAC) on Tuesday night started right from the beginning as it was the Muleriders who found the scoreboard first on a three-pointer by De'Sean Dockery at the 18:56 mark of the first half.
 
That made trifecta by Dockery was the first of the season for the 6-foot-4 junior guard out of Memphis, Tenn. and it would also be the genesis of a personal nine-point scoring outburst to start the game as all nine of SAU's points over the first five minutes of the game were scored by Dockery. During that time, the Reddies (5-16, 4-12 GAC) would only manage a pair of points as SAU gained a firm grip on the game.
 
Dockery would not score again in the first half despite his hot scoring start, but his teammates would more than pick up the slack as the Muleriders, thanks in part to 47% (15-of-32) shooting overall from the floor would gain a lead as large as 15 points before heading into the locker room with a 12-point advantage, 37-25.
 
Coming out of the break, the Muleriders would solidify their control of the game as they opened up the first two and a half minutes on a 9-0 run to push their lead out to 21 points, 46-25, with 17:44 remaining. Over the remainder of the game, the Muleriders would maintain a comfortable lead, swelling it out as large as 35 points before ending with a 24-point margin of victory, 85-61.
 
Helping the Muleriders maintain their sizable lead was an improved second half field goal percentage as SAU shot 53% (19-of-36) overall from the floor over the final 20 minutes.
 
For the game, the Muleriders would dominate several key statistical categories including rebounds (45-38), points in the paint (44-26), second chance points (13-3), and bench points (34-23).
 
Individually, the Muleriders would have all 11 players who saw time on the court score in the game with Denarious Lockhart leading the way with 17 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the floor while also adding a perfect 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. Dockery, who started off on fire for the Muleriders, would be the lone other Mulerider in double figures as he finished with 15 points.
 
The Muleriders will now head home and prepare to welcome in Arkansas Tech for a Saturday afternoon clash. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Center.