MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Department of Athletics has announced its final fan/community promotion of the 2019-20 Mulerider Basketball season. On February 20, SAU's final Thursday night home game of the regular season, the department will celebrate both National Love Your Pet Day and National Cherry Pie Day as both the Mulerider Men and Women welcome in nationally-prominent Southeastern Oklahoma State to the W.T. Watson Center.
 
As part of the initiative, Mulerider Athletics will team up with Chicken Express to give out the restaurant's famed fried cherry pie to anyone that donates dry dog food, dry cat food, or kitty litter and/or makes a monetary donation to the Columbia County Animal Protection Society (CCAPS).
 
Admission is free for both games, and Mulerider Athletics asks that fans consider making a donation to the worthy cause. At the end of the evening, the department will match the monetary amount collected throughout the night, up to $1,000, and present the proceeds to CCAPS.
 
"As we continue our tradition of Community Night, we are happy to be able to partner with two of Magnolia's best organizations," remarked Director of Athletics Steve Browning. "Robert Dodson and Chicken Express have been highly involved in the Magnolia community since the day they opened and we couldn't be any more excited to partner with them to help us show how much the fans of Mulerider Basketball means to our teams and how much CCAPS means to Columbia County."
 
Browning added, "I encourage the fans from all over the community to come out on that Thursday and not only cheer on the Muleriders, but help us celebrate National Love Your Pet Day and National Cherry Pie Day by donating to CCAPS and receiving a delicious cherry pie from Chicken Express."
 
A longtime and proud supporter of Mulerider Athletics, Chicken Express, located at 2 Warnock Springs Road in Magnolia, provides fast, friendly service of the best quality food and is the Home of the legendary Express Tenders® and Chicken E® Sweet Tea!
 
CCAPS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization maintained through donations from the community as well as proceeds from Second Chances Thrift Store and its mission is to "provide temporary humane care, food, water, shelter, and medical attention for stray, homeless, abandoned, and neglected animals in Columbia County and South Arkansas." The organization does not receive any city, county, state, or federal funding. For more information on CCAPS, visit https://bit.ly/3btzIQH.