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GAME NOTES | SAU | OKB | SNU

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Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team heads into the final week of the regular season knowing that they will be making their fifth-consecutive trip to the Great American Conference Basketball Championships, which will be held in Bartlesville, Okla., after they knocked off Ouachita, 84-74, in their most-recent game. That win, combined with a loss by Southeastern Oklahoma on the same day officially punched the Muleriders' ticket.

While SAU has clinched a berth, the two games remaining on their regular season schedule still bear significant consequences as the Muleriders are looking to better their
current standings for the tournament. As of prior to the games this week, the Muleriders are tied for fifth-place with their Saturday opponent, Southern Nazarene. If the season
were to end today, the Muleriders would be the No. 5 seed in the tournament as they beat Southern Nazarene in the first matchup of the year.
 

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MULERIDER NEWS & NOTES
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 14-12 overall record and a 11-9 mark in the Great American Conference. The Muleriders are coming off an impressive 84-74 win at home against Ouachita in their most-recent game. That victory, along with a loss that same day by Southeastern Oklahoma clinched
the Muleriders a berth into the 2016 GAC Basketball Championships in early March in Bartlesville, Okla. It will be the Muleriders' fifth-straight appearance in the GAC Tournament.

On the season, the Muleriders are averaging 76.7 points per game, which ranks fifth in the GAC. Defensively, the Muleriders rank fifth in scoring defense in the GAC at 73.9 points per game, and their +2.8 scoring margin ranks fourth in the league.

As a team, the Muleriders are shooting .463 (743-of-1,606) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .325 (151-of-464) from long range. From the free throw line, the Muleriders are shooting .633 (357-of-564). Their overall field goal percentage ranks third in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks 10th. At the charity stripe the Muleriders' percentage ranks 12th.

Individually, the Muleriders have five players who are averaging double figures in scoring with Jaron Davis leading the team at 12.8 points per game. Deon Andrews is next on the team at 11.6 ppg. while CJ Elkins is just behind Andrews averaging 11.3 ppg. Denarious Lockhart is next at 10.4 ppg. while Alvin Braddock rounds out double-digit scoring at 10.0 ppg.

The leading rebounder on the team in terms of rebounding average in Denarious Lockhart with 7.9 rpg through 18 games played. Alvin Braddock, however, leads the team in total rebounds with 169. Jaron Davis is the top assist man on the team with an average of 4.0 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 OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 7-17 overall record and a 3-17 mark in the Great American Conference. The Bison are coming off of a 78-67 loss at home against Southwestern Oklahoma in their most-recent action.

On the season, the Bison are averaging 69.4 points per game, which ranks 11th in the GAC. Defensively, the Bison rank 10th in scoring defense in the GAC at 75.8 points per game, and their -6.3 scoring margin ranks 12 in the league.

As a team, the Bison are shooting .423 (573-of-1,355) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .321 (209-of-651) from long range. From the free throw line, the Bison are shooting .700 (311-of-444). Their overall field goal percentage ranks seventh in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks 11th. At the charity stripe the Bison's percentage ranks sixth.

Individually, the Bison have three players who are averaging double figures in scoring with Steven Green leading the team at 18.3 points per game. Chandler Rickey is next in scoring at 14.4 ppg. and Vladimir Nemcok rounds out double-digit scoring at 11.9 ppg. Chandler Rickey is the leading rebounder on the team at 8.8 rebounds per game. Vladimir Nemcok is the top assist man on the team with an average of 6.0 assists per game.

COACH
The Bison are coached by Quinn Wooldridge, who is in his first season at Oklahoma Baptist. A former player at Oklahoma Baptist, Wooldridge came to OKB with extensive coaching experience that saw him make stops at Southwestern Christian, Univ. of the Southwest, Oklahoma City Univ., Wayland Baptist, Missouri Baptist, Lyon College,
and Eastern Oklahoma State.

THE SERIES
This will be the second meeting all-time between the Muleriders and Bison. SAU won the initial meeting between the two teams as the Muleriders picked up a 78-67 win.
 

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SCOUTING SOUTHERN NAZARENE
The Southern Nazarne men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 12-14 overall record and an 11-9 mark in the Great American Conference. The Crimson Storm are coming off a win in their last game as they narrowly edged out Southeastern Oklahoma by a point, 56-55.

On the season, the Crimson Storm are averaging 76.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the GAC. Defensively, the Crimson Storm rank 12th in scoring defense in the GAC at 79.2 points per game, and their -2.4 scoring margin ranks eighth in the league.

As a team, the Crimson Storm are shooting .442 (673-of-1,521) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .384 (236-of-615) from long range. From the free throw line, the Crimson Storm are shooting .657 (414-of-630). Their overall field goal percentage ranks sixth in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks third. At the charity stripe the Crimson Storm's percentage ranks 10th.

Individually, the Crimson Storm have three players who are averaging double figures in scoring with CJ Rodriguez leading the team at 17.6 points per game. LB Willis is next at 15.7 ppg. Deshon Portley rounds out double-digit scoring at 11.1 ppg. while C.J. White is just outside that mark at 9.5 ppg. C.J. White is the leading rebounder on the team at 5.8 rebounds per game. LB Willis is the top assist man on the team with an average of 3.8 assists per game.

COACH
The Crimson Storm are coached by Adam Bohac, who is in his eighth season at Southern Nazarene. In his previous seven seasons, Bohac has amassed a 142-79 overall record and has won 20 or more games four times.

THE SERIES
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the Muleriders and the Crimson Storm. In that time, the Crimson Storm hold a 6-1 advantage over SAU. The Muleriders lone win in the series thus far came in their most-recent meeting back on January 9.