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SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
MULERIDERS
11-13 (9-9 GAC)
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OUACHITA
TIGERS
11-11 (9-9 GAC)
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HARDING
BISONS
13-9 (10-8 GAC)
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GAME NOTES (PDF)
Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team enters play this weekend on a bit of roll having won its last two games including a 73-58 upset win on the road against then-ranked No. 17 Arkansas-Monticello this past Monday as part of the GAC's "Rivalry Night". With the pair of recent wins, the Muleriders continue to position themselves for a berth in the upcoming GAC Basketball Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.
Currently, the Muleriders are in a three-way tie for sixth place with Henderson State and Thursday's opponent, Ouachita. Additionally, the Muleriders are just one game back of Saturday's opponent, Harding for the current fifth-place in the league standings.
Saturday's game is also the Muleriders' final game this year inside the W.T. Watson Center. As part of that, the program will hold a Senior Day ceremony for the four seniors on the 2016-17 team. Among those being honored prior to tip-off are
Babajide Aina,
Tony Aska,
De'Sean Dockery, and
Denarious Lockhart.
MULERIDER NEWS & NOTES
The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team enters play this weekend with an 11-13 overall record and a 9-9 mark in the GAC. The Muleriders have now won two games in a row and are coming off of a 73-58 upset win on the road against then-ranked No. 17 Arkansas-Monticello.
On the season, the Muleriders are averaging 72.4 points per game, which ranks ninth in the GAC. Defensively, the Muleriders rank fifth in scoring defense in the GAC at 72.8 points per game, and their -0.4 scoring margin ranks 10th in the league.
As a team, the Muleriders are shooting .426 (615-of-1,444) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .319 (134-of-420) from long range. From the free throw line, the Muleriders are shooting .652 (374-of-574). Their overall field goal percentage ranks 10th in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks ninth. At the charity stripe the Muleriders' percentage ranks 11th.
Individually, the Muleriders have three players who are averaging double figures in scoring with
CJ Elkins leading the team at 16.6 points per game. Elkins' scoring average ranks seventh in the GAC.
De'Sean Dockery is next on the team at 10.7 ppg and
Snyder Cenecharles rounds out double figure scoring with a 10.4 ppg average.The leading rebounder on the team is
Denarious Lockhart with 8.5 rpg. Elkins is the top assist man on the team with an average of 2.5 assists per game.
COACH
The Muleriders are coached by
Andy Sharpe, who is in his fifth season at Southern Arkansas. In his time at SAU, Sharpe has amassed a 65-71 overall record.
Over the past two seasons, Sharpe has begun to turn the Muleriders into serious contenders in the GAC as SAU has won 24 conference games and have finished in the top half of the standings each year as well. Overall in the past two seasons, Sharpe has guided the Muleriders to a 32-25 record while also posting consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.
SCOUTING OUACHITA
The Ouachita men's basketball team enters play this weekend with an 11-11 overall record and are 9-9 in the Great American Conference. The Tigers have lost their last two games, but each defeat has come by four points. Prior to their two-game skid, the Tigers has won their previous three games.
At 9-9 in the Tigers are tied with Southern Arkansas and Henderson State for sixth place with all three teams currently representing the final three spots in the upcoming GAC Tournament.
As a team, the Tigers are shooting .435 (577-of-1,326) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .351 (191-of-544) from long range. From the free throw line, the Tigers are shooting .696 (316-of- 454). Their overall field goal percentage ranks ninth in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks fifth. At the charity stripe the Tigers' percentage ranks seventh.
So far this season, the Tigers are averaging 75.5 points per game offensively, and are allowing 73.9 points per game defensively. Their points per game scoring ranks seventh in the GAC while their scoring defense per game also ranks seventh in the league.
Currently three Tigers are averaging double-figures in scoring with Lakee Westbrook leading the team with 17.4 points per game. Justin McCleary is next at 13.8 ppg and Carven Holcolmbe rounds out double figure scoring with 11.4 ppg. Holcolmbe is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.3 rebounds per game. Jordan Corbitt is the team's top assist man at 3.2 assists per game.
COACH
The Tigers are coached by Dennis Nutt, who is in his sixth year at Ouachita. In his previous five seasons, Nutt has compiled an 81-60 overall record. Prior to his time at Ouachita, Nutt was the head coach at Texas State for six years where he went 72-96 overall with the Bobcats.
LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, SAU snapped a season-long five-game losing steak with a 69-67 win at home over Ouachita.
THE SERIES
This is the 36th meeting since 1999-2000 between SAU and Ouachita and the Tigers hold a 20-15 advantage. SAU and Ouachita have met at least twice a year in that time with the two reconnecting as conference opponents in 2001-02.
SCOUTING HARDING
The Harding men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 13-9 overall record and a 10-8 mark in the Great American Conference. The Bisons enter the weekend having lost their last four games. Prior to that, the Bisons had won six in a row.
On the season, the Bisons are averaging 76.2 points per game, which ranks sixth in the GAC. Defensively, the Bisons are allowing 72.4 points per game, ranking their scoring defense fourth in the GAC. Their +3.8 scoring margin ranks sixth in the league.
As a team, the Bisons are shooting .456 (568-of-1,246) overall from the floor which includes a shooting mark of .381 (224-of-588) from long range. From the free throw line, the Bisons are shooting .723 (316-of-437). Their overall field goal percentage ranks fourth in the GAC while their 3-point field goal percentage ranks second. At the charity stripe the Bisons' percentage ranks third.
Individually, three Bisons are averaging double figures with Tim Wagner leading the way at 18.0 points per game. Will Francis is next in scoring at 14.2 ppg and Stefan Andelkovic rounds out double-figure scoring at 12.6 ppg. Andelkovic is the team's leading rebounder at 6.3 boards per game. Francis is the leading assist man on the team at 4.0 assists per game.
COACH
The Bisons are coached by Jeff Morgan, who is in his 24th year as the head coach at Harding. Overall, Morgan is in 25th season as a head coach after spending his first season at his alma mater, West Texas A&M. Since taking over at Harding, Morgan has amassed a 397-263 overall record. Six times, Morgan has won 20 or more games in a season and he has led the Bisons to the NCAA Tournament seven times while capturing the GAC Tournament Championship in 2014. Additionally,
he has won conference regular season titles in 2008, 2013, and 2016.
LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, Harding used a big second half surge to work past the Muleriders, 84-61, in Searcy. At the half of that game, SAU trailed by just a point and even held a three-point in the second half.
THE SERIES
This is the 39th meeting since 1999-200 between SAU and Harding with the two teams meeting at least twice a year in that time. In three of the last four seasons, the two have met in the GAC Tournament and Harding has won all three of those games.
