MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After several cancellations to the league schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a pair of Great American Conference contests canceled, Southern Arkansas welcomed in Ouachita for a nonconference meeting inside the W.T. Watson Center on Thursday night. The Muleriders grabbed the lead from the opening tip, built a 42-29 advantage at the intermission and cruised to an 83-62 win to improve to 6-2 overall.
 
Thursday night's tilt did not count toward the league standings per GAC policy concerning the pandemic and the 2021 basketball season. It was the third-straight victory for Southern Arkansas over Ouachita; a victory that saw the Muleriders shoot 50% (26-of-52) from the floor, 38.5% (10-of-26) from beyond the arc, and a season-best 77.8% (21-of-27) from the charity stripe.
 
The Muleriders turned 20 Tiger turnovers into 23 points and out played the opposition inside as SAU won the battle of the boards 34-28 and topped the Tigers in paint points 26-14.
 
Sophomore guard Dodge Brown scored 11 of Southern Arkansas' 32 bench points behind a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He accounted for five steals and a pair of assists in 28 minutes. Senior guard Aaron Lucas also added five steals to go along with 17 points and four assists. Senior forward Devante Brooks, the Peoples Bank Player of the Game, dropped 17 points as well and collected seven rebounds, three blocks and a pair of assists.
 
Redshirt freshman forward Logan Bradley scored his first collegiate points with a 2-for-2 effort at the stripe in addition to knocking a triple try late.
 
Southern Arkansas returns to the court on Saturday inside the W.T. Watson Center for a 4 p.m. tip-off with Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys toppled the Muleriders 66-59 on January 14 in Russellville. ATU did not play on Thursday night. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.