SHAWNEE, Okla. – It was a tough night on the road for #22 Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders suffered their first loss since December 1 in an 88-72 Great American Conference defeat to Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday night from inside the Noble Complex in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The loss snaps a Division II Era-best eight-game win streak for the nationally-ranked Muleriders.
 
Southern Arkansas (14-3, 9-2 GAC) drops down into a three-way tie for first place in the GAC standings with the Bison (10-7, 9-2 GAC) and Southern Nazarene (16-3, 9-2 GAC), but will look to rebound as they head to Bethany, Oklahoma, for the first Top 25 matchup in league history as the No. 19 Crimson Storm await at 3 p.m. from inside the Sawyer Center. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
The Muleriders struggled mightily from three-point range in the loss as they fared to connect on only three of their 14 first-half tries from deep in addition to missing all five trifecta attempts in the second half. Aiding the Bison in the first half of play was 23 first half free throw attempts of which they connected on 19, while the Muleriders managed only 11 attempts with nine makes from the stripe in the opening twenty minutes.
 
Additionally, Oklahoma Baptist shot 45.8% from beyond-the-arc in the contest, including 6-of-11 behind the perimeter in the second half to keep Southern Arkansas at distance. The Bison shot 56.5% from the floor for the game and missed just seven second half shots of the team's 23 total attempts in the final twenty minutes.
 
Trailing by ten at the intermission, the Muleriders pulled to within five points of the lead at 74-69 with 4:36 remaining in the game. Quick back-to-back inside baskets by the Bison pushed the lead back to nine, while a pair of free throws made it 80-69 Oklahoma Baptist with 2:43 to play which helped put the game out of reach down the stretch.
 
SAU took advantage of turnovers as it used 20 Bison turnovers for 23 points including 19 points in the second half. Sophomore Aaron Lucas scored a team-high 17 points and added a game-high six rebounds to go along with three steals. Draylan Perkins followed with a dozen points, while CJ Elkins and Devante Brooks each added nine points. Elkins dished out half of SAU's eight assists.