ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas senior big man
Denarious Lockhart erupted for a career-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting while also registering his fourth double-double of the season with a 14-rebound effort to add to his stat line on Thursday night on the road at Henderson State. SAU, who trailed the entirety of the game made a valiant comeback effort pulling to as close as three points with under a minute left, but Henderson ultimately won the game, 78-72.
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (6-7, 4-3 GAC)
Henderson State Reddies (11-2, 6-1 GAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Henderson State got the scoring started in the game with a put-back basket by Chris Hawkins. SAU's CJ Elkins shortly thereafter knotted the game at two with a layup at the 19:11 mark. Over the next couple of minutes, however, the Reddies ripped off a 10-1 run to jump out to a nine-point lead, 12-3, with 16:45 left in the first half.
- The Muleriders rallied back and cut the deficit down to two points, 14-12, thanks to a jumper by Elkins.
- Another Henderson scoring surge followed and the Reddies gained their first double-digit lead of the game on a free throw by Kaylon Tappin at the 11:22 mark. With 8:35 remaining in the opening half, Henderson grabbed their largest lead of the game, 16 points, 30-14.
- SAU chipped away at that sizable deficit and trimmed it down to five points, 38-33, with just over a minute left, but consecutive layups gave the Reddies a nine-point lead at the break, 42-39.
- Throughout most of the second half, the Reddies remained in relative control on the scoreboard, leading by double digits with just under four minutes left on the clock, but the Muleriders found a scoring rhythm down the stretch and were within three points with 50 seconds showing on the clock after Elkins split a pair of free throw attempts.
- SAU was unable to get any closer than that as the Reddies made five-of-six free throws over the final minute to keep the Muleriders at bay.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Muleriders had three players in double figures with Lockheart's 24 pacing the team. Elkins ended with 16 and De'Sean Dockery chipped in a dozen off the bench.
- After hitting six trifectas and shooting 50% from long range in the first half, the Muleriders' defense limited the Reddies to just one make on five attempts in the second half.
- The Muleriders held an advantage in rebounding as they won the battle on the glass, 46-33.
- Both teams turned the ball over more than 15 times and each was able to capitalize on their end with SAU scoring 20 points off of turnovers and Henderson 26
- The double-double for Lockhart is his seventh-career at SAU and fourth this season.
UP NEXT
The Muleriders return home for a Saturday afternoon clash with Arkansas Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Center