MAGNOLIA, Ark. – If there was ever a way to open up the home schedule, the Mulerider Men did exactly that with a scoring record-tying 120-57 win against Ecclesia College in front of an excited W.T. Watson crowd. The victory marks the first win for first-year Head Coach Mark Rutledge and what better place to earn that than in front of all your biggest supporters?
 
Statistical Leaders
Four individuals for the Blue and Gold accounted for double-digit scoring, which was led by junior transfer Rashad Bishop with 20 points as the Louisville, Kentucky native made 10-12 (all in the paint). Others acquiring 10+ points were Chase Jenkins (19 | 6-10 | 2-4 3FG), Anthony Igiede (18 | 7-11 | 3-4 3FG), and senior Christian Caldwell who recorded 14 points and 14 rebounds (7 ORB | 7 DRB) for just his second double-double while repping the Blue and Gold. Also, scoring his first collegiate points, and impressively at that, was redshirt freshman Zac Pennington. The Spa City native recorded nine points with all of them coming from beyond the arc (3-6).
 
Team Statistics
As a team, the Muleriders shot the rock 86 times and cashed it in for 46 baskets (53.4%). From three, Southern Arkansas was solid, especially in the later minutes of the contest, as the unit shot 16-37 overall and 12-21 in the second half. SAU scored half of its points from inside the paint as well as 34 points off turnovers, 31 points on second chances, and 19 points on fast breaks. The entire squad got their minutes in as Rutledge's bench scored 86 of the 120.
 
This contest was decided early within the first four minutes of the home opener as the Muleriders jumped out ten points on the Royals (13-3) at the 16:53 mark.
 
After Southern Arkansas had performed Mulerider Madness Pt. 2 with the in-house dunk and three-point contest, the Blue and Gold held a 62-25 lead at the half. That was when eyes looked for the single-game scoring record for the program, which was set by Rutledge's former head coach in his graduate assistant days, Andy Sharpe (120-56 vs Champion Christian | 2021-22).
 
The Muleriders came out of the break, not with the scoring record on their mind, but with the simple mindset of don't let up. They indeed did not as they scored 58 in the second and tied the record.
 
Win one is in the books for the head coaching career of Mark Rutledge and the 2024-25 Mulerider Men's Basketball group. Southern Arkansas is right back at it inside the W.T. tomorrow evening following the Mulerider Women, as both units will face Arlington Baptist for the third consecutive season.