MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Highlight reel plays and dunks came in bunches for the Southern Arkansas men's basketball team on Monday night as they cruised past Arkansas-Monticello by a score of 86-69 on "Rivalry Night" in the Great American Conference.
 
Among the bevy of highlight reel plays was a first-half, buzzer-beating three-pointer from just beyond half court from CJ Elkins. Elkins would go on to post a handful more of spectacular plays, most of which were rim-rattling dunks, but it was Elkins' buzzer-beater that would reach a national audience as it was the No. 6 play on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
 
That three-pointer by Elkins' gave the Muleriders (13-11, 10-8 GAC) a welcomed eight-point lead, 38-30 heading into the locker room. It was a welcomed halftime lead because the Boll Weevils (7-17, 5-13 GAC) had opened the game up on a 9-0 run and led by that margin going into the first media timeout.
 
Despite the slow start, the Muleriders would methodically work their way back into the game, eventually taking the lead, 20-19, with 7:44 left in the half on a conventional three-point play by Elkins. That three-point play by Elkins was in the middle of what was a 9-0 SAU run that saw them flip a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, 24-19, with 5:54 left in the half.
 
The Boll Weevils would break that run and went on a 9-2 run of their own over the next 2:32 of the game to grab a slim two-point lead, 28-26. Over the final 3:06 of the half, the Muleriders would go on a 12-2 run with the capstone of that run being Elkins' SportsCenter Top 10 Play.
 
Coming out of the half, the Muleriders would quickly make it a double-digit advantage as Elkins assisted on a dunk by Denarious Lockhart at the 19:38 mark of the second half. From there, the Muleriders would establish total control of the game, leading by as many as 22 points before settling upon a 17-point margin of victory, 86-69.
 
Statistically, the Muleriders would have three players score in double figures with Elkins leading the way with 21 points. Deon Andrews was next with 14 points and Alvin Braddock rounded out double-figure scoring with 11 points.
 
The Muleriders will now turn their attention towards getting a big-time win on the road at Harding this Thursday night. It will be the Muleriders' final road game of the regular season as the remainder of  their games beyond Thursday will be played inside the W.T. Watson Center.