KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four players scored in double figures led by All-American Aaron Lucas' 18 points in a game-high 36 minutes of action and (RV) Southern Arkansas put together a 22-9 run in the final 5:30 of play, but the rally came up short in a 74-66 season-opening setback to Augustana on Friday night at the Central Region Tipoff Challenge from inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
 
Southern Arkansas (0-1) trailed 29-23 at the intermission, but were only outscored by a bucket in the final twenty minutes of play as Augustana (1-0) edged the Muleriders in the second half 45-43. SAU's first half perimeter defense held the Vikings to just one made three-point shot in eight attempts in addition to forcing AU into an overall field goal percentage of just 29.6% (8-of-27).
 
The Muleriders won the skirmish in the paint (28-24), outscored AU in points off of turnovers (21-12) and posted an impressive shooting clip of 48.3% (14-of-29) from the floor in the second half. For the game, SAU went 16-of-21 (76.2%) from the free throw line, including a 12-of-15 effort over the final twenty minutes of play.
 
Augustana heated up in the second half making six of their 15 shots from beyond-the-arc, while shooting 46.6% (14-of-30) from the field which helped the in-region foe build a 21-point advantage with 5:11 to play in the game.
 
The largest lead for either team through the first 19 minutes of play was just four points by the Vikings which went 6-of-8 from the charity stripe in the final 3:08 of the first half to build the six-point advantage at the break. AU quickly pushed its lead to 37-25 at the 17:40 mark of the second half.
 
Junior combo Jalen Brooks scored the next three points for SAU to bring the deficit back to nine points, while a trifecta and inside basket by Lucas brought SAU to within two possessions of the Vikings' lead at 39-33. A 26-11 run from AU ensued as the lead blossomed to 65-44 with just over five minutes to play.
 
The next 45 seconds saw both J. Brooks and junior Blake Rogers each sink two free throws moments before senior Devante Brooks scored inside to cut the deficit to 65-50 with 3:47 left. Junior Tyler Garrett connected on 1-of-2 from the stripe, before back-to-back three-point buckets from J. Brooks and Rogers brought the Muleriders to within 11 points of the lead at the 2:28 mark of the second half.
 
Lucas assisted J. Brooks inside as the deficit stood at just nine points with AU leading 67-58 with 1:49 to play. In the final 90 seconds, Rogers connected on a perimeter shot pulling the Muleriders to within seven. SAU would manage to get within six points of the Vikings' lead twice in the final minute of play as Garrett converted an old-fashioned, three-point play with an inside basket and a free throw with 37 seconds to play and AU up 70-64. Lucas followed with successful free throws at the 26 second mark pulling SAU to within six at 72-66.
 
Lucas and D. Brooks each made six shots and the former led the squad in three-pointers made with three as SAU struggled from beyond-the-arc connecting on just six of its 23 attempts from range. Lucas finished with four of SAU's eight assists and two rebounds. D. Brooks finished with 14 points and a team-high six rebounds. J. Brooks scored a dozen and collected three of the team's five steals. Rogers added ten points.
 
The Muleriders are back in action on Saturday night in Kansas City against #15/RV Northern State; the four-time defending NSIC regular season and tournament champions and Central Region finalist from a season ago. Tipoff from inside Municipal Auditorium is set for 7:45 p.m. Live state coverage is available here: https://pittstategorillas.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary.