SEARCY, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (11-13, 8-10) defeated the Harding University Bisons (15-9, 11-7) behind a 20-point scoring performance from Anthony Igiede by a final score of 83-79 in Searcy, Arkansas.
 
The Bisons broke the ice first, taking a 2-0 lead 31 seconds into the game. Carel Ray Jr. would pick up right where he left off in Thursdays game draining an early three pointer to give the Muleriders the lead, 3-2. Harding would retake the lead and try to pull away from SAU but the offense would not let the game slip away taking an 11-10 lead with 15:31 left in the first half.
 
Both teams would continue to battle throughout the next eight plus minutes of play until the Bisons would open up their largest lead of the first half thus far at seven, 24-31. SAU's offense would respond again going on a 9-0 run capped off by a Zac Pennington three pointer to take a 33-31 lead with 3:54 to go in the first half. The Bisons would then catch fire retaking the lead and for the remainder of the first half. Harding would end the first half with a four-point lead taking a 44-40 lead into halftime.
 
The Bisons offense would come out of halftime hot jumping out to a six-point lead, 49-43 with 17:47 to go in the second half. With 13:15 to go in the second half the Bisons offense would seem to be too much for the Muleriders to handle as they would open up a 10-point 61-51 lead. The Muleriders would then begin to chip away, pulling the Bisons lead to just one with 9:34 remaining in the second half.
 
An Anthony Igiede layup with 7:14 remaining would give the Muleriders the lead. The Muleriders would mount an 8-0 run over the next two plus minutes to take a commanding 76-69 lead over the Bisons with 5:43 to go in the second half. Harding would pull the lead to as little as two with 22 seconds remaining, but the Muleriders offense would prove to be too much as they would go on to win the game.
 
The Muleriders would finish making eight three pointers in the contest and would have four players finish with double-digit scoring performances including Anthony Igiede (20), BJ Davis (17), Nevi Tell (12), and Rashad Bishop (10). Anthony Igiede also finished his night with a career high in blocks with four.
 
Top Performers
Anthony Igiede: 20 points, two rebounds, four blocks (career high)
BJ Davis: 17 points, two rebounds, four three pointers made (led team)
Nevi Tell: 12 points and one rebound
Rashad Bishop: 10 points and four rebounds
Carel Ray Jr.: Nine points and eight rebounds
 
Next Up
The Muleriders will return home to Magnolia, Arkansas for their next three games kicked off against the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, February 20th at 7:30 PM. Thursday's game will also be student appreciation night inside the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.