MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (9-10, 6-7) dominated the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison (12-7, 9-4) by a final score of 72-56 in a rematch after falling earlier in the season in Shawnee.

The Muleriders would draw first blood in the game thanks to back-to-back three pointers from Carel Ray Jr. and BJ Davis to take a 6-0 lead. The Bison would battle back and tie the game at 6-6 with 15:51 to go in the first half. SAU would tighten down on defense and the offense would get hot again to go on a 13-0 run, taking a commanding 19-6 lead at the 10:40 mark in the first half.

The Bison would show some life pulling the Mulerider lead to just eight points but a dunk by Rashad Bishop would have SAU extend the lead back out to 12-points. OBU would be able to pull within seven points of the SAU lead with 3:59 to go before the intermission, but the Muleriders offense was hitting on all cylinders in the first half taking a 29-20 lead into the locker room.

The teams would trade blows to open the second half but a three pointer from Anthony Igiede would open up a 10-point 42-32 SAU lead with 13:01 to go in the second half. The Bison would gain some momentum in the second half closing the gap to just six points at the 11:16 mark.

Despite the Bison's best efforts to chip away at the SAU lead, the offense would get hot again taking an 18-point lead with 7:42 to go, 58-40. With 5:48 remaining in the second half, BJ Davis would convert a layup to give SAU their largest lead of the second half at 21, 64-43.

The Bison's offense would gain some momentum late in the second half but the Mulerider's offense proved to be too stout earning a hard fought win over the second ranked team in the GAC.

The men would finish shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc. Carel Ray Jr. finished as the Mulerider's leading scorer with 22 points and Anthony Igiede would record his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Players of the game:

Carel Ray Jr.: 22 points (led team) and three rebounds

Anthony Igiede: 11 points and 10 rebounds (led team)

BJ Davis: 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists (led team)

Rashad Bishop: 12 points and three rebounds

Next Up:

The Muleriders will be back in action Saturday, February 1st at the W.T. Watson Center in Magnolia, Arkansas as they look to extend their winning streak against the top team in the GAC as they take on Southern Nazarene University at 3:00 P.M. CT.