MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Hoops returns to action after the Thanksgiving break, and for first-year head coach Mark Rutledge, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native makes his way back to the most recent place he called home prior to his move to Columbia County. Rutledge takes on his former squad and head coach Vinay Patel as Southern Arkansas makes its first true road game appearance in Angelo, Texas for its contest with the Angelo State Rams.
 
The two squads are fairly familiar with one another as Patel, Rutledge, and the Rams met the Muleriders inside the W.T. Watson Center last November with an absolute nail-biter. ASU escaped the then Logan Quinn-led Muleriders off a buzzer-beater three-pointer to defeat SAU 63-64. The ending was not so unfamiliar to Rutledge as he was once a part of the Henderson State coaching staff to have overcome Southern Arkansas inside the W.T. via a three-point buzzer-beater (62-65 | December 4, 2021).
 
Southern Arkansas Statistic Leaders
The Muleriders have been led by Anthony Igiede in more ways than one, as the sophomore is the unit's leader for scoring (70 points | 14.0 ppg), three-point percentage with at least ten attempts (45.5% | 10-22), assists (14), steals (10), and blocks (7).
 
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native is also coming off a performance worthy of the title of Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Week after accounting for 18 points, eight rebounds (7 defensive), three blocks, and two assists in Southern Arkansas' home battle against the MIAA's Rogers State Hillcats. Igiede is the first Mulerider player to claim the honor since he claimed co-GAC Player of the Week last January.
 
One of the few statistical categories that Igiede does not lead in is rebounding. For that, Christian Caldwell has been the Muleriders leader with 36 total boards and averaging 7.2. Igiede sits at second for the team, averaging 5.6 per game with 28 total.
 
Second on the squad for scoring has been the big man out of Louisville, Kentucky, Rashad Bishop. The junior has recorded 62 points thus far, averaging 12.4 per game, with all of his points coming from in the paint or at the charity stripe.
 
As a team, Southern Arkansas is ranked fourth in the GAC for its scoring offense, averaging 86.4 ppg, while also being second in the league for its scoring margin of 16.0 (29^th nation). The group has been the conference's leader for rebounds this season as the unit is first in the league in rebounds per game (41.20) and first in the GAC for offensive rebounds per game (14.80 | 19^th nation). The Muleriders have also been the league's top team for bench points per game with 46.80 per outing (5^th nation) as well as blocks per game with 4.6 (25^th nation).
 
Angelo State (2-2 | 0-1 LSC)
The Rams have a bit of a balanced start to their season as the group is 2-2 with losses to New Mexico Highlands (83-84) and Texas-Permian Basin (62-65). ASU has had an impressive win this season with its 69-63 victory at #22 Fort Lewis and a 101-58 triumph at home against Arlington Baptist. ASU's scoring offense currently ranks eighth in the LSC (78.8) while the group's defense ranks fifth in the league (67.5).
 
Angelo State's leading scorer has been Carvell Teasett, who has recorded 70 points in four games and averages 17.5 per game. In the field, Teasett has made 57.1% of his shots and is shooting 64% from beyond the arc (16-25), which ranks first in the Lone Star Conference and fourth in the nation.
 
At the basket, the Rams have been led by Sterling Gaston-Chapman who has accounted for 23 rebounds this season and averages 5.8 per game. The senior has also proven to be a strong member of the offense as well with 53 points and a field shooting percentage of 41.7%.
 
The Muleriders take on the Rams and look to return the favor of last season's buzzer-beater loss on Saturday at 3:00 PM inside the Junell Center – Stephens Arena. Live Stats and Coverage links can be found at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.