MAGNOLIA, Ark. - A pre-Turkey Day hardwood clash against a nationally-ranked foe is on tap for second-year head coach Logan Quinn's Southern Arkansas Muleriders on Tuesday evening inside the W.T. Watson Center. The Muleriders welcome in #19 Angelo State for a 6 p.m. tip-off. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
 
The Muleriders (2-2) and the Rams (1-1) meet for just the second time all-time with the first meeting coming on December 12, 1997; a 69-66 ASU win in San Angelo.
 
SAU enters the Tuesday tilt winners in their last two matchups against non-NCAA competition. The Muleriders survived Arlington Baptist 78-77 before bouncing Ecclesia 83-48. Southern Arkansas opened its season against in-region competition (RV) Minnesota State and Winona State falling to each before evening up its record last weekend in Magnolia.
 
Through four games, Southern Arkansas holds a top 35 mark nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 14.0 and ranks top 50 nationally in rebounding average at 40.75. Senior Gregory Hammond Jr. leads SAU in board work ranking 37th nationally in offensive rebound average at 3.67, while holding a top 45 mark in DII in rebounding average at 9.3.

In his first year of action, redshirt freshman Anthony Igiede ranks second in the GAC with a top 50 clip in DII in free throw percentage at 95.0%. Of note, the Muleriders have had three different players lead the team in scoring, two players have recorded double doubles, have yet to eclipse ten threes in a game with eight made threes in each of its last three games and is even in turnover margin with a +6.3 in points off turnovers.
 
Angelo State takes the floor for just the third time in 2023-24. It opened the season with an eight-point win over #15 Fort Lewis, before losing by three points 68-65 to New Mexico Highlands in the South Central Region Crossover in Portales, New Mexico.
 
In just two games this season, the Rams are holding opponents to under 69.0 ppg. ASU has hit three-point attempts at a success rate that sits just below 40% and sits at +2.5. Keyshawn Embery-Simpson has filled it up in two games averaging 22.5 points. Shemar Smith and Kevin Godwin are both averaging double figures with Trey Farrer averaging 7.5 and 7.5.