MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Junior guard Gabe Gilliam scored 16 of his career-high 22 points in the second half, while classmate forward Devante Brooks delivered his seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Those individual efforts helped the Muleriders overcome an 11-point deficit in the second half of Thursday night's Great American Conference road affair at Southwestern Oklahoma to top the Bulldogs 65-63 for their fifth-consecutive victory.
 
The Muleriders (10-9, 7-6 GAC) move into a three-way tie for fifth-place in the GAC standings following the program's third-straight win over SWOSU in Weatherford which splits the season series after the Bulldogs won in Magnolia earlier this month.  
 
SAU managed just 22 first-half points and endured an almost eight-minute scoring drought during the opening twenty minutes, but erupted for 43 points in the second half behind 48.39% (15-of-31) shooting from the floor which included four three-point makes all of which came from the stroke of Gilliam. His first two makes of the half helped SAU cut its deficit to just three points at 43-40 with 10:52 remaining in the game. At the 6:28 mark, his trigger three gave the Muleriders a 53-50 lead; their first of the second half, and with 2:24 to play, the Shreveport, Louisiana, native knocked down a triple try to break a 55-55 tie.
 
Prior to Gilliam giving the Muleriders their first lead of the second half, he tied the game at 47 with a pair of free throws at the 7:12 mark. He finished 7-of-10 from the floor, including a 6-of-9 shooting clip from range in 22 minutes off of the bench. Junior guard Aaron Lucas delivered six assists.
 
Down the stretch, a baseline jumper by freshman Jessie Davis Jr. pushed the SAU lead to 60-56 with 36 seconds left and the final five points from the Muleriders came by way of the charity stripe as SAU put the game out of reach by making five of their six free throw attempts late.
 
Southern Arkansas shot a dozen fewer times than SWOSU on Thursday night, but made two more attempts as SAU finished at 44% shooting from the floor. The Muleriders' eight made three-point attempts are the team's second-most in a GAC game this season. Defensively, the Muleriders outrebounded the Bulldogs 49-35 and held the host to a 32.3% shooting clip. The 63 points surrendered mark the fifth-straight game that the Muleriders have held their opponent under 65 points and it is the 12^th time this season that they have done so. In those games, SAU holds a 9-3 record.
 
The Sooner State swing continues for Southern Arkansas on Saturday as the Muleriders head to Alva for 3 p.m. tip-off with Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers topped SAU 88-84 in overtime on January 5 in Magnolia. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.