MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Mulerider fans, if you need your hardwood fix then this weekend has you covered. Four home games across three days featuring both the Southern Arkansas Men and Women are on tap inside the W.T. Watson Center beginning Thursday night. Both teams are in action for the first of 13 doubleheaders this season as they host Arlington Baptist at 5 pm and 7 pm on November 16. The Mulerider Men will be in action on Friday in a 7 pm tip-off with Ecclesia and the Mulerider Women will wrap up the weekend on Saturday at 2 pm against Centenary. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
The Southern Arkansas Women (2-0) are coming off an impressive two-game stretch at home as they hosted the Central Region Tip-Off. The Muleriders posted its highest scoring output in a season opener since 1987-88 in a 98-48 blowout of Newman. The following night, SAU put down Lincoln 81-62 for its second 2-0 start of the past three seasons.
 
Junior Diamond Morris paced Southern Arkansas as one of three players to log 50 minutes of action over the first full weekend of play. She averated 18.5 points and 6.0 rebounds to go along with nine steals and seven assists. Morris shot 53.6% from the floor. Addy Tremie nailed six of SAU's 16 three-point makes as she shot 46.2% from beyond the arc en route to a two-game scoring average of 17.5 points. Newcomer Jessica Clemons averaged 25.0 on-floor minutes and 10.0 ppg, while connecting on 8-of-9 attempts from the stripe. She matched Morris in rebounds with a dozen.
 
In all, the Muleriders forced 70 turnovers behind 45 steals, shot 32.0% from three-point range and 43.5% overall from the floor. SAU averaged 47.0 rebounds per game in addition to recording 33 assists.
 
SAU meets Arlington Baptist for the second time ever and for the second-straight season. The Muleriders topped ABU 104-44 on November 17, 2022. The Saturday matchup with Centenary will be the first between the two programs.
 
ABU enters 1-3 on the season and is coming off of a 68-55 win over the University of St. Thomas (Texas). It will be the seventh game for the Patriots after having played exhibitions with the University of Science and Arts (Okla.), Texas State and Wayland Baptist (Texas). ABU enters with a scoring differential of -5.2 behind an offense that scores at 71.3 ppg. Jakayla Bradford leads the Patriots in scoring with 15.0 ppg and in assists at 3.0 per game; both of which are top 15 marks in NCCAA. SiaJonet Burley is shooting 52.6% from the floor in 38 attempts; the 11th-best mark in NCCAA.
 
Centenary will come into Saturday looking for its first win of the season after an 0-3 start. The Ladies were narrowly defeated by LeTourneau 59-53 in their most previous trip to the court. Centenary is averaging 46.3 ppg behind a 24.7% shooting clip. Amiyah Barrow is the top scorer at 11.7 ppg with a team-best 42.3% shooting clip. Alana Jones' 8.7 rebounds per game lead Centenary.
 
The Mulerider Men are set for their 2023-24 home opener with back-to-back games against the Patriots and Royals. Last season, Southern Arkansas hosted both programs on consecutive nights winning by an average of 32.5 points. It will be the second meeting between SAU and ABU after last year's home opener, while the Muleriders and Royals meet for the sixth time overall and for the fourth time in the former's GAC membership. SAU has won the previous five matchups.
 
SAU will look to enter the win column for the first time this season and suffering a pair of tough losses to competitive in-region foes last weekend in Kansas City. Southern Arkansas dropped its opener 90-70 to (RV) Minnesota State and then was edged 68-62 by Winona State. Since joining the GAC in 2011-12, the Muleriders are 10-2 in home openers and have won their last eight such games. SAU entered the season having won its previous 14 home non-conference matchups and is set for its only three of the season over the next six days.
 
The Muleriders averaged 66.0 ppg in its first two trips to the floor and were led by senior Gregory Hammond Jr.'s 16.0 ppg. Hammond, the GAC Newcomer of the Year in 2022-23, also led in rebounding with 7.0 per game. Christian Caldwell averaged 10.0 ppg with 3.0 rebounds. Carel Ray Jr. followed Hammond with 6.0 rebounds per game. Only two Muleriders attempted a dozen or more three-point shots in the first two games. Hammond hit four of his dozen attempts and Ray made two of his 13. Seven Muleriders made their SAU debut in Kansas City which included Magnolia native Nevi Tell who became the first true freshman to start a season opener in the program's GAC Era.
 
ABU's Michael Carter was named the NCCAA Division II men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week after leading the Patriots in two games which included a win over Paul Quinn College. For the week, Carter averaged 19.0 ppg with 5.5 rebounds and shot 56.0% from the floor including a 57.1% clip from three-point range. ABU enters at 2-3 overall with its most previous matchup resulting in a 120-88 defeat to SAU's fellow GAC foe Southeastern Oklahoma. The Patriots are averaging 75.2 ppg and are shooting 42.5% from the floor.
 
Ecclesia plays at Ouachita on Thursday night before Friday's tip-off with the Muleriders. Entering its matchup with OUA, Ecclesia is 2-4 on the season. EC is averaging 80.0 ppg with a +6.4 scoring margin and an overall FG% of 39.7%. The Royals are -3.4 in rebounding margin behind 39.0 boards per game.