RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Thursday, the Great American Conference (GAC) released the league's 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll for the upcoming Men's Basketball season. Second-year head coach Mark Rutledge prepares to begin the new season as his Muleriders were voted tenth overall in the preseason poll with 30 points.
 
Southern Arkansas beings the new season after missing the conference tournament last year for the first time since being apart of the GAC. The men finished last season with a 12-16 record overall and were 9-13 in GAC play.
 
The men return six players off last year's squad with three of the six seeing major playing time. Hometown kid Nevi Tell returns this year for the Muleriders after playing 28 games last year for the Blue and Gold. The Magnolia, Arkansas native scored 105 points while racking up 59 assists, 81 rebounds, and converting 14 three pointers. Chase Jenkins also returns this season for the Muleriders after seeing action in 27 games last year. The Titusville, Florida native scored 97 points in 2024 while also collecting 41 rebounds and shooting .315 from the field. Zac Pennington also returns this season after seeing action in 21 games in 2024-25. Pennington was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe last season while also being a .375 shooter from the field and a .356 shooter from beyond the arc. Donavhn Sanford, Ed Kornbacher, and Matthew Turner also return for the Muleriders this season as all three will look to play a significant role this season.
 
The 2025-26 squad is also made up of a plethora of new faces as 12 new players have made their way to Magnolia for the season. These new faces include Kendal Parker, Braylan McNeal, JaKourion Key, Greg Moore Jr. John Probey, Troy'reon Ramos, Junior Williams, Jayce Tillman, Zane Pennington, Albert Wilson III, Jair Horton, and Carter Metz.
 
The Muleriders will get their 2025-26 campaign underway with a trip to Houston, Texas for an exhibition game with Houston Christian University on Monday, November 3rd.
 
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