ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Trailing by six points with 1:13 left in the game, Southern Arkansas' Keeton Tennison connected on a pair of three-pointers to pull SAU even with Ouachita, 74-all at the close of regulation and force overtime. Early in the extra period, however, Ouachita made a three-pointer of their own to take a one-point lead, and then iced the game away at the free throw line making 11 of their final 12 attempts from the charity stripe to secure an 88-82 win on Thursday Night.
 
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (11-14, 9-10 GAC)
Ouachita Tigers (12-11, 10-9 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ouachita took the early advantage in the game, going up 10-3 with 15:50 to go in the first half, but a 9-0 run over the next three and a half minutes gave the Muleriders a slim two-point lead, 12-10. The first six points of that run were scored by KJ Collins as he made consecutive jumpers and converted a pair of free throw attempts as well.
• That modest SAU lead did not last long, however, as Ouachita's Lakee Westbrook hit a three-pointer the next trip down the court to give the Tigers the lead once more.
• For the remainder of the half, Ouachita led SAU on the scoreboard, but the margin was not ever out of reach and it was merely a three-point game at the break, 36-33.
• Immediately out of the locker room, it was a one-point game as Denarious Lockhart threw down a dunk off of an assist by CJ Elkins. While the lead was razor-thin for the Tigers, they slowly were able to maintain and build upon the lead, taking a 12-point advantage, 54-42, with 13:49 left in regulation.
• Battling throughout, the Muleriders were able to cut that deficit down to just four points, 69-65, with 3:52 to go, but a three-pointer by Ouachita's Jordan Corbitt about 20 seconds later, made it a seven-point Tiger advantage with just over 3:30 on the clock.
• For the remainder of the second half, SAU was able to limit the Tigers to just two points, allowing the Muleriders to make a late-game comeback and force overtime with the aforementioned Tennison trifectas.
• In the overtime, SAU quickly scored the first points on a mid-range jumper by Elkins, but a three-pointer by Westbook with 4:04 on the clock, gave the Tigers the lead once more, 77-76.
• Ouachita was then able to protect that advantage and ultimately stave off the Muleriders by making 11-of-12 free throws the rest of the way out.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Muleriders, as a team, shot 46% overall from the floor, going 28-for-61. On the other end, Ouachita shot just 39% from the floor and made 28 field goals as well, but attempted 10 more shots than the Muleriders, thanks in part to 15 offensive rebounds. Despite that, the Muleriders still out-rebounded the Tigers, 42-41.
• Four Muleriders ended the game in double figures with Elkins leading the team with an 18-point effort. Just off that total was Tennison with 17 points.
• All but two those points came from made shots beyond the arc as Tennsion made five 3-pointers. It was the second-straight game that he has made five long range shots. In his last eight games, Tennison has made nearly half of his three-point attempts, going 29-for-59 in that stretch.
• A point back of Tennison was De'Sean Dockery and KJ Collins rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points off the bench.

 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now prepare for their final home game of the 2016-17 season as they will play host to Harding at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Prior to tip-off of the game, the SAU men's basketball team will have its Senior Day ceremony for the four seniors on this year's team. Being honored at that time will be Babajide Aina, Tony Aska, De'Sean Dockery, and Denarious Lockhart.