BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Down 19 points with 6:09 to play in its Great American Conference Tournament opening round matchup with (5) Henderson State, (4) Southern Arkansas rallied courtesy of a 15-1 run that pulled the Muleriders to within five of the Reddie lead at 65-60 with 3:06 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, SAU would not be able to pull any closer down the stretch as HSU closed the contest on a 9-2 run to top the Muleriders 74-62 on Friday evening inside Bruin Fieldhouse. It was Southern Arkansas' eighth trip to Bartlesville and the loss ends the Muleriders' season at 19-10 overall; an NCAA Era-best record in the program's 24-year Division II membership.
 
Southern Arkansas (19-10) trailed by 18 points in the first half and by as much as 20 points following the intermission, but the Muleriders battled back to make it a ballgame late. Highlighting the aforementioned 15-1 run were back-to-back quick trigger three-pointers from sophomore Aaron Lucas which came 17 seconds apart. Twenty-six seconds following Lucas' second make from deep during the run, he assisted senior Draylan Perkins on a trifecta which built a 9-0 Mulerider run in 43 seconds.
 
Lucas wasn't finished as he pulled Southern Arkansas' deficit under ten points with an inside bucket, before senior CJ Elkins, an All-GAC Honorable Mention selection, knocked down a pair of free throws at the 4:29 mark with the Muleriders trailing by seven points, 65-58.
 
Perkins would add a free throw and sophomore All-GAC First Team honoree DeVante Brooks followed with a free throw as well as the Henderson State lead was cut down to five at 65-60. The Reddies would close the door behind four successful makes from the free throw line.
 
Henderson State's early lead, which grew to 14 points through the opening ten minutes of action, came as a result of a trio of offensive rebounds which all lead to successful three-point attempts.
 
Three Muleriders finished in double-figure scoring as Perkins finished with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep, while adding four free throws. He grabbed six rebounds which was second on the team behind D. Brooks who finished with 13 rebounds to go along with a dozen points in a double-double effort. Elkins concluded his illustrious career as a Mulerider with 12 points, four assists and a pair of rebounds.