RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders Men's Basketball Team's 2024-25 campaign came to a close in Russellville, Arkansas tonight as they fell to the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys by a final score of 65-46.
 
The Muleriders got on the board first as Christian Caldwell put the first points of the contest on the board as SAU took a 2-0 lead. The Wonder Boys then went on a 16-0 run over the next four plus minutes to take a commanding 16-2 lead with 11:11 to go in the first half. Carel Ray Jr. then converted two free throws for the first points for the Muleriders since their opening score at 19:38. Arkansas Tech dominated much of the first half taking their largest lead of the first half, 28-9 with 5:01 remaining in the first half. The Muleriders hung around and closed the gap to 35-19 before half but ATU held the lead at intermission.
 
The Wonder Boys came out of the half opening up an 18-point lead, but the Muleriders did not go away quietly. The Blue and Gold then mounted a 9-0 run to pull within nine points of the ATU lead and make it a 37-28 game with 16:21 to go. The Wonder Boys did not let the comeback last long as they would open up a 23-point lead with 5:42 remaining, 57-34. The Muleriders battled to try and work their way back in the game, but the Wonder Boys proved to be too much in the end and Arkansas Tech won the game advancing to the GAC tournament.
 
With the Muleriders loss to the Wonder Boys they have officially  been eliminated from the Great American Conference Tournament and will not make the field of eight for the first time since joining the GAC.
 
The men finish their season with a 12-16 overall record and 9-13 conference record. BJ Davis finished as the team's leading scorer with 334 points while averaging 11.9 points per game. Anthony Igiede finished his sophomore campaign with 326 total points while averaging 11.6 points per game. Christian Caldwell finished as the leading rebounder with 155 total rebounds and averaged 5.5 rebounds per game.
 
Jaren Harris, BJ Davis, Christian Caldwell, Carel Ray Jr., and Marcus Rodgers Jr. all played in their final game of their college career tonight. Mulerider Athletics would like to thank these seniors for their commitment to the program and wish them good luck in all their future endeavors.
 
Top Performers:
Anthony igiede: 12 points, three rebounds, one block, two steals
Christian Caldwell: eight rebounds, five points
Nevi Tell: six points, 4-4 from the free throw line