MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After a fantastic start to the 2024-25 home schedule, Mulerider Men's Basketball looks to keep that momentum rolling heading into their first Division II contest inside the W.T. Watson Center this campaign, as they look to take on the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (MIAA) Rogers State Hillcats.
 
RSU will be the first MIAA program to face the Muleriders inside the W.T. Watson Center since Northeastern State journeyed to Columbia County on November 23, 2009. Southern Arkansas and Rogers State also meet for the first time since playing in the GAC/MIAA Challenge in November of 2019 as the Hillcats won the clash 85-74, the only meeting between the two programs.
 
The Blue and Gold recently achieved two decisive victories, defeating Ecclesia College 120-57 and Arlington Baptist 105-82. This comes after a challenging start to the season, where they began 0-2 against formidable opponents in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). In their first game, the Muleriders faced the reigning national champion Minnesota State – Mankato Mavericks, narrowly losing by just four points, 71-67. The following day, they took on Sioux Falls but fell short once again, losing 73-68. Since then, the Muleriders have secured two much-needed wins, especially important as they started their home games.
 
Mulerider Statistics
Currently leading Southern Arkansas in scoring is sophomore guard Anthony Igiede with 52 points. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native leads the unit in scoring as he is making 48.6% of his total shots from the field (18-37) and is currently the team's top three-point shooter in terms of shots made (6-15). Five other Muleriders have been very efficient in scoring as well, showing that it's not a "one-man show" in Magnolia. Scoring 30+ points so far is Rashad Bishop (49 | 22-27 FG | 5-8 FT), Christian Caldwell (42 | 16-26 FG | 10-11 FT), Kris Cook (42 | 16-49 FG | 6-7 FT), Chase Jenkins (42 | 12-31 FG | 12-16 FT), and BJ Davis (37 | 12-32 FG | 8-9 FT). Igiede is also the nation's current leader for his assist to turnover ratio as he leads with 12 assists to one turnover on the year.
 
With the squad's last couple of games, the Muleriders have jumped to second overall in scoring and first overall in scoring margin for the Great American Conference, as the group is averaging 90.0 points per game and winning by 19.3 (18^th nationally). SAU's field goal percentage ranks in the bottom half of the GAC (7^th | 44.6%), but it has been what they've done with the ball after a miss that has been so impressive this season as the group is first in the conference for offensive rebounds per game, averaging 16.00 (13^th nationally). The group is the league-leaders for three-point attempts per game, averaging 31.3 shots per outing, but also rank second in the conference for their makes, averaging 10.5. As a whole, the Muleriders are the GAC's top blocking team thus far, averaging 4.8 per game and ranking 28^th nationally.
 
Rogers State (6-1 | 0-0 MIAA)
In the Hillcats' seven contests this season, the group's scoring leader is Kofi Hamilton, Hamilton a 2023-24 All-MIAA Honorable Mention has been averaging 18.1 points per game and ranks 12^th nationally for his 127 points accounted for this season. Rogers State has had its success in the paint and off the boards as the squad holds the MIAA's top rebounder in Caden Fry, who has recorded 47 rebounds. Another name to be on the lookout for in the RSU lineup is Jabryn Anderson. Anderson is the league's leader in steals with 16, and he ranks 12^th nationally with the statistic.
 
Rogers State is right with the Muleriders in blocking, as the Hillcats rank second in the MIAA for their average of 4.4 blocks per game. The group also houses the MIAA's top field goal percentage at 53.2 (12^th nationally). RSU has been handling teams also, as they have a scoring margin of 13.3 (3^rd MIAA).
 
The two regional foes face off inside the W.T. Watson Center tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM for one final contest in Magnolia prior to the Thanksgiving break.