Durant, Okla. - The SAU Men's Basketball team hits the road to take part in their final road games of the regular season as they face a pair of Oklahoma opponents. The Muleriders, as well as their opposition this weekend, are looking to put themselves in the best conference position possible as the conference tournament is a mere two weeks away. The Muleriders currently sit second in the GAC and punched their ticket into the tournament with a win over Arkansas-Monticello. 

First, the Muleriders travel to Durant to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm are 16-6 on the season and 12-6 in the GAC. The Savage Storm currently sit third in the GAC standings and would overtake the Muleriders for the second spot with a win. The Savage Storm clinched their place in the tournament with wins last week over East Central and Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm have won four games in a row, with wins over Oklahoma Baptist, Southern Nazarene in addition to last weekend's sweep. The Savage Storm have the second-highest scorng offense in the GAc and the fourth-best scoring defense. The Savage Storm rank second in scoring margin, free throw percentage and field goal percentage. They lead the league in assists and assist/turnover ratio, and are second in three-pointers made. The last time these two teams met, the Muleriders defeated the Savage Storm 73-64 as the Savage Storm only shot 21 percent from three. Jett Jobe led all scorers with 15 points while season-leading scorer Kevin Buckingham only scored 14 points in addition to grabbing 15 rebounds. Buckingham enters this weekend having been named GAC Player of the Week each of the past two weeks, having also won the accolade on December 3rd. The Savage Storm have had two other members of their team, Kellen Manek and Adam Dworsky, also be recognized as player of the week. Buckingham currently sits third in the conference in scoring with 20.3 points per game, and leads the conference in rebounding at 9.4 boards per game. 

Following this game, the Muleriders travel to Ada to take on East Central. The Tigers enter this weekend 14-9 on the season and 11-7 in the conference. They currently sit in 7th place; however, they only sit two games back of the Muleriders in second place. The last time these two teams played, the Muleriders defeated the Tigers 72-58. Camron Talley was the leading scorer for the Tigers as they only shot 13.6 percent from three. On the season, Talley is the conference's second-leading scorer at 21 points per game, and is second in minutes played with 823. Teammate Da'Rion King leads the conference in field goal percentage. As a team, the Tigers are fifth in scoring offense and first in field goal percentage and steals. They also rank in the top five in three-point percentage, blocked shots and turnover margin. The Tigers can clinch a postseason spot with a win this weekend or by losses from Ouachita and Arkansas Tech. 

After this weekend, the Muleriders, currently ranked tenth in the regional poll, return home to close their season with a home stretch against league leaders Southern Nazarene on Thursday and Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, who currently sit one game behind the Muleriders in the standings, currently tied with Southeastern Oklahoma State.