MARYVILLE, Mo. - They stay saddled in until the very end. (8) Southern Arkansas, in an NCAA regional tournament for just the second time in program history and the second time in three seasons, faced arguably its toughest task in recent memory against perennial power and region host Northwest Missouri. The Muleriders battled the three-time defending national champs until the end, despite the Bearcats pulling away in the second half to win 94-69 in Central Region quarterfinal No. 3 from inside a raucous Bearcat Arena on Saturday night in Maryville, USA.
The Muleriders (22-10) utilized 20 points, seven rebounds, one assist and a block from its all-league first teamer Gregory Hammond Jr. and benefited from 15 points by Jerry Carraway Jr. and 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal by all-leaguer LaTreavin Black.
NWMSU (31-2) placed six players in double figures led by region player of the year Diego Bernard's 21 points and 18 points each by Wes Dreamer and Bennett Stirtz.
Through the first media of the opening twenty minutes, Southern Arkansas used a left wing triple try from the stroke of Hammond who also scored inside on a crowded drive to the rim as the Muleriders stayed instep with the host 6-5 at the 15:45 mark.
They let 'em play on Saturday night and that was a good thing for both sides as a physical, well-played contest broke out from the opening tip. Early on, the Muleriders were highly responsive as Carraway knocked down a trifecta that gave SAU its lone lead at 8-6 and added a slip inside on an assist by Black that cut a then deficit to a single point at 11-10. Carel Ray Jr. followed Carraway's action with a nice spin to the cup to keep the contest at one possession with around 13 and a half minutes to play.
NWMSU doubled up its lead on the Muleriders holding a 24-12 lead at the 10:31. Dreamer made a pair of threes as part of that run. For the game, the Bearcats sank nine three-point shots with Dreamer accounting for a third.
SAU used two free throws and a second-chance bucket by Black to hold the deficit at a dozen points as NWMSU carried a 31-19 lead into the under-8 stoppage. The Bearcats shot 66.7% from the floor through the first 12+ minutes of action to set the pace.
Nearing the 6:30 mark, Brock Schreiner positioned well in front of a driving Bearcat to draw a charge and it sparked the Muleriders on both ends of the floor. Blake Rogers bucketed a step back shot moments before Hammond found Carraway open for a three-point make which cut the deficit down the seven.
Black converted two more attempts from the stripe and as the clock dipped near the four-minute mark, Kris Wyche hammered a triple try to pull Southern Arkansas to within four points at 33-29 as part of a 10-2 that tightened the gap.
The Bearcats would carry a 46-35 lead into the half behind a 13-6 run over the final four minutes. The first half saw six lead changes, the Bearcats finished +18 in paint scoring, while the Muleriders shot 54% from three and 44% from the floor.
The green and gray clad crowd had plenty to be excited about in the opening twenty minutes, but the nearly 2,200 Bearcat fans came alive in the final half of action. NWMSU opened on a 15-5 scoring run capped off by a transition slam from Stirtz.
Despite the Bearcat advantage growing, the Muleriders continued to play tough inside, getting hard-earned buckets to fall on drives by Ray, Black and Hammond and a pair of blitzes to the rim by Carraway.
The Bearcats scored 17 of their 22 points off of turnovers in the second half as SAU committed just six first half turnovers. The Muleriders scored 16 second chance points behind 11 offensive rebounds. The teams went even on the boards as each grabbed nine.
For the game, Southern Arkansas shot 45% from the floor and made seven of its 19 attempts from deep. NWMSU shot better than 62% in each half of action.
A 32-game season saw the Muleriders set single season program records in points scored (2,478), field goals made (902), three-pointers made (297) and assists (403).
The Muleriders' postseason run comes to an end in the regional quarterfinals. Southern Arkansas finishes its '23 campaign under first-year head coach Logan Quinn with the most total wins (22) in the program's NCAA Era, the most conference wins (15) in the same span, the highest regular season finish in its GAC membership despite being picked preseason No. 9 and as the Great American Conference Tournament Champions.
Chip on 3.
