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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
MBB | Arkansas Tech (3.3.17)
Liz Chrisman
68
Southern Arkansas SAUM 13-16
72
Winner Arkansas Tech ATU 21-6
Southern Arkansas SAUM
13-16
68
Final
72
Arkansas Tech ATU
21-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southern Arkansas SAUM 34 34 68
Arkansas Tech ATU 32 40 72

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | By: Daniel Gallegos

Furious comeback falls short as Muleriders edged out by No. 3-seed Arkansas Tech, 72-68

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Trailing by 10 points with 8:17 remaining in the game, the No. 6-seed Southern Arkansas men's basketball team staged a valiant comeback effort that saw the Muleriders tie the game at 68-all with just 55 seconds left on the clock. However, No. 3-seed Arkansas Tech managed to hold off SAU for a 72-68 win in the opening round of the 2017 Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville.
 
RECORDS
(6) Southern Arkansas Muleriders (13-16)
(3) Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (21-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • A back-and-forth opening half saw the Muleriders hit a quick 6-0 spurt to take a seven-point lead, 34-27, with 2:33 left. That seven-point was the largest for either team in the first half. Arkansas Tech closed that gap to just two points before the break, however with a 5-0 run to close out the half.
  • Out of the break, Arkansas Tech found a shooting rhythm as they surged past the Muleriders and grabbed an 11-point lead with just less than 15 minutes left to play. The Wonder Boys then stretched that advantage out to as much as 16 points, 56-40, at the 13:56 mark. During that scoring surge, Arkansas Tech connected on six 3-pointers.
  • Over the next five minutes of game time, the Muleriders began to work their way back into the game, going on an 11-3 run to trim their deficit to single digits with 8:30 to play. Of those 11 points, senior guard De'Sean Dockery accounted for nine of the points
  • As the second half wore on, the Muleriders kept the game within reach, getting as close as a point, 66-65, with 1:26 showing on the clock. The Wonder Boys then made it a three-point game on a layup by Justin Graham, but on the Muleriders' next trip down the court, sharpshooter Keeton Tennison was fouled on a three-point attempt with 55 seconds.
  • Tennison, an 87% free throw shooter on the season coming in, made good on all three tries, knotting the game at 68-all.
  • A key offensive rebound by the Wonder Boys on their next possession led to a second chance opportunity that also led to Montrell Williams going to line where he made both attempts to give the Wonder Boys the last lead needed in the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • The Muleriders shot 42% overall from the floor and had three players, all seniors, in double figures. De'Sean Dockery led the way with 22 points. Denarious Lockhart was next in scoring with 13 points, and Tony Aska added 11 points.
  • Lockhart and Aska combined for 15 rebounds and Aska tied with CJ Elkins for a team-high in assists with four.
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