MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Rivalry Monday. The current rosters of both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello look quite different in 2022-23 than in years past, but the lack of familiarity between the two longtime bitter rivals changes nothing; there is no love lost between the two south Arkansas foes. The Muleriders and Weevils meet for the first time this season on Monday night in Drew County. Tip-off from inside Steelman Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.

It will be the 26^th meeting between the two programs since the 2011-12 season when both became charter members of the Great American Conference. SAU holds the series advantage in that span at 16-9 which includes having won two straight and three of the past four matchups. In Monticello, the Weevils lead 7-6 with the Muleriders' toughest defeat coming in UAM's 75-74 Great American Conference Tournament Championship win on March 7, 2021.

Southern Arkansas enters at 12-4 overall with an 8-2 record in league play which places first-year head coach Logan Quinn, one of the youngest head coaches in all of college basketball, in a tie for second-place with Arkansas Tech. UAM has lost seven straight games and comes into the Monday night tilt at 5-11 overall and 1-9 against GAC opponents.

The Muleriders own a top 60 scoring offense nationally at 79.4 ppg which ranks second in the GAC. SAU's scoring margin of 9.9 is the 36^th highest in DII basketball and also second among league competition. Southern Arkansas currently carries a rebounding margin of +6.8 which leads the GAC and is 21^st nationally. That statistic comes from a solid production on the offensive glass as SAU's 13.5 offensive rebounds per game leads the conference and ranks 17^th nationally. The Muleriders are the top rebounding team in the GAC at 38.38 per game.

Two of the top five teams in the GAC in terms of three-point shooting and three-point defense will be on the floor on Monday night. SAU ranks third in three-point attempts (25.9) per game, fifth in three-point percentage (35.7%) and third in three-point percentage defense (31.1%) in the GAC. Arkansas-Monticello ranks seventh in three-point attempts (21.2) per game, but holds the 14^th highest three-point percentage (40.1%) in DII basketball and ranks fifth in the league in three-point percentage defense (34.0%).

Three players land in double figure scoring for SAU with Gregory Hammond Jr.'s 13.1 ppg tops on the team. Blake Rogers follows with 11.1 ppg and LaTreavin Black's 10.6 ppg accompany a team-leading rebounding average of 7.5. Black along with Carel Ray Jr.'s 6.7 rebounds per game are both inside the league's top five. Kris Wyche's 36 made three-point shots lead the team and rank sixth in the GAC. SAU is currently +11 in total steals, +10 in total assists and +4 in total blocks. Black leads the team in steals with 30, Brock Schreiner's 46 assists are just out front of Jerry Carraway's 42 and Hammond Jr.'s 13 blocks make him the lone Mulerider with 10+.

UAM is averaging 65.5 ppg and currently owns a scoring margin of -2.0. Four players carry double-figure scoring averages with Isaac Jackson's 12.2 ppg leading the team. Josh Denton follows with 11.4 ppg. Denton is fourth in DII basketball in three-point percentage at 50% and ranks fourth in the GAC in three-pointers per game (2.62) and in total three-pointers (42). Edwin Louis and Mario Fantina both average over 10 ppg. Timur Krupalija leads the team in rebounding with 5.0 rpg and six other players are averaging at least three rebounds per game. UAM is +24 in total assists, -56 in total steals and -8 in total blocks.