MONTICELLO, Ark. – A hot shooting first half by Arkansas-Monticello was too much for Southern Arkansas to overcome on Monday night inside Steelman Fieldhouse as the Muleriders fell 78-64 to the Weevils in Great American Conference Eastern Division play. Despite seeing its opponent shoot 68.9% (20-for-29) from the floor in the first half which included six three-point makes to build a 28-point halftime advantage, SAU clamped down defensively in the final twenty minutes as it allowed UAM to just 29 second half points on just 30.7% (8-for-26) shooting. The effort came up just short as Southern Arkansas managed to only cut the lead down to 11 points late as SAU suffered its second loss of the '21 campaign.
 
The Muleriders (5-2, 5-2 GAC) outscored UAM 43-29 in the second half as SAU nailed six triple tries with five coming from senior guard Aaron Lucas who led all scorers with 26 points and for just the second time in his career delivered back-to-back 20+ point scoring games. He added five assists, two steals and a rebound as he saw 39 minutes of action. Junior combo Jalen Brooks scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
SAU outrebounded UAM 29-26, but the host edged the Muleriders in paint scoring 30-28. The Muleriders scored the game's first points, but an ensuing three-pointer from the Weevils gave UAM a lead that it would not surrender as it evened the season series at a game apiece.
 
Southern Arkansas returns to action on Thursday night inside the W.T. Watson Center for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with Harding. SAU beat the Bisons 81-53 in Searcy on January 16 and has won the last four meetings. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.