KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In a thrilling matchup, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders, led by first-year Head Coach Mark Rutledge, fell just short against the reigning national champions, the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, losing 71-67 in a hard-fought battle. The game, which was close from start to finish, showcased the Muleriders' resilience and determination against a powerhouse opponent.
 
Southern Arkansas came out strong, trading baskets with the Mavericks in the early minutes. Despite the intimidating presence of the #1-ranked team, the Muleriders were able to maintain their composure and match Minnesota State's intensity on both ends of the floor. Key performances from SAU's standout players Kris Cook and Rashad Bishop helped keep the game within reach, with several clutch shots and tough defensive plays.
 
Cook led the unit in scoring with his 21 points for his first competition as a Mulerider. The senior guard knocked down eight of his 20 attempts from the field. The Hollywood native made all four his free throws as the Muleriders made 86.7% from the charity stripe, the best free throw percentage with 10+ attempts since February 2, 2022 against Arkansas-Monticello (15-17 | 88.2%). Bishop was second in scoring for SAU with his 12 points and all six shots coming from inside the paint (6-8).
 
The Blue and Gold's eventual downfall came from the rebound and three-point game as the Mavericks out-rebounded the Muleriders 49-30. Southern Arkansas' three-point percentage came out to 8.7% after just making two of their 23 attempts.  
 
With just under two minutes remaining, SAU had a chance to tie the game, but a few missed opportunities and key defensive stops from Minnesota State sealed the win for the Mavericks. Despite the loss, Southern Arkansas earned respect for their competitive spirit, taking the nation's reigning national champions to the brink and showing they can compete at the highest level.
 
Mulerider Men's Basketball is back in action tomorrow against the Sioux Falls Cougars at 7:00 PM.