ADA, Okla. – Double double efforts from Carel Ray Jr. and Christian Caldwell highlighted five Muleriders in double figures on Saturday afternoon in Ada and Southern Arkansas led wire to wire to snap a five-game losing streak with a 79-61 Great American Conference win over East Central from inside Kerr Activities Center.

Two days after shooting nearly 52% from the floor, the Muleriders (5-9, 3-5 GAC) shot 50% overall knocking down half of their 50 shot attempts and making eight of 20 three-point shots. SAU shot 70% from the stripe behind a season-high 21 made free throws. The Tigers shot seven more times than the Muleriders, but made three less that the visitors.

Southern Arkansas dominated the glass finishing +21 on the boards and at +5 on the offense glass. SAU's 31 defensive rebounds are the most against a DII foe this season. Additionally, the Muleriders finished +12 in second chance points.

Gregory Hammond Jr. knocked down a triple try on SAU's first trip down the floor and the Muleriders would never trail as the lead grew to as much as a dozen points in the first half. In the final twenty minutes, ECU cut its deficit to just eight points, while the Muleriders led by as much as twenty points, before the score settled with SAU's largest DII win of the season.

Ray led with 18 points and added 13 rebounds in a full 40 minutes of action. Caldwell's double double consisted of 15 points and ten rebounds, while Hammond scored 17 points with five rebounds, three assists two blocks and two steals. Cedric Garrett followed with a dozen points and five rebounds and Anthony Igiede added ten points and five rebounds.

Southern Arkansas returns home for a pair of league tilts. The Muleriders host Southern Nazarene on Thursday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. inside the W.T. Watson Center. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.