MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas sophomore guard CJ Elkins set a new single-game career-high in points as he scored 29 against Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday night inside the W.T. Watson Center. Elkins' career day fueled the Muleriders to a 75-65 win over the Bison.
 
RECORDS
Oklahoma Baptist Bison (4-5, 1-4 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (6-5, 4-1 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• SAU led wire-to-wire in the game against the Bison and it was Elkins who got the team and himself going early as he scored the game's first points on a breakaway layup following a steal. Seconds later, Elkins came away with another steal and started a fast break that ended in a highlight reel ally-oop dunk by Denarious Lockhart, prompting a quick timeout by the Bison bench.
• The Muleriders continued to control the game and established a 7-0 lead through the first five minutes of the game. The Bison finally found the bottom of the net at the 15:06 mark as Timotis Kuckailis buried a three-pointer.
• At the 13:28 mark, SAU took their first double-digit lead of the game on a mid-range jumper by De'Sean Dockery. Thanks to a continued suffocating defensive effort, the Muleriders maintained a comfortable lead the remainder of the half and went into the locker room ahead by 10 points, 31-21.
• Leading by as many as 12 points in the first half, the Muleriders quickly made it a 12-point game once more as Lockhart made good on a painted hook shot on the half's opening possession. Over the next few minutes of play, however, the Bison went on a 6-0 run to cut that deficit in half, 33-27, with 17:46 left.
• The Bison remained within single digits of SAU's lead, but the Muleriders were able to stave off any real threat and recaptured a double-digit advantage with just over 10 minutes left to play. From there, SAU was in complete control of the game and led by as many 15 points before ending the game with a 10-point margin of victory, 75-65
• Incidentally, the basket that gave the Muleriders the 10-point win was a three-pointer by Elkins in the waning seconds which also helped Elkins establish his career-high in scoring, surpassing his previous high of 27 set earlier this season

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Elkins' 29 points came on an impressive 12-of-17 (71%) shooting overall from the floor. The 12 made field goals are the most made by a Mulerider in a game since 2013-14 when Jeffrey Walker made 13 field goals against Southeastern Oklahoma
• Scoring wasn't all that Elkins did against the Bison has he had a team-high six steals and five assists while also adding four rebounds in 37 minutes of play.
• As a team, the Muleriders shot 48% overall from the floor, but after just shooting 38% in the first half, the Muleriders were an impressive 58% in the second half. A large part of that was Elkins as he scored 17 second-half points on 7-of-10 shooting.
• Perhaps the most telling team stat of the game came in regards to turnovers as SAU committed a season-low nine turnovers but forced a season-high 21 from the Bison. Additionally, the Muleriders were able benefit significantly on Oklahoma Baptist's miscues to the tune of 24 points off of turnovers.
• Two other Muleriders joined Elkins in scoring double figures with Lockhart and Tony Aska each scoring 10 points. Lockhart added a team-high 10 rebounds as he collected his third double-double of the season (second-consecutive)

 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will remain at home and get ready to play Southern Nazarene on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for Noon inside the W.T. Watson Center