MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (10-13, 7-10 GAC) downed the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils (9-14, 5-12 GAC) in front of a rowdy crowd inside The W.T. Watson Center on student appreciation night tonight by a final score of 80-65.
 
The Boll Weevils opened up the scoring tonight with an early layup to take and early lead, 2-0. The Muleriders then quickly answered with two points of their own as Junior Williams broke the ice for SAU, 2-2. A slow first almost four minutes of the game led to SAU taking a 6-5 lead with 16:42 remaining in the first half. After taking the lead, the Muleriders offense got hot quickly ripping off a 10-0 run to take a commanding 14-5 lead with 12:48 remaining. After the 10-0 run, the Boll Weevils began to respond eventually pulling within two points of SAU with 6:33 remaining in the first half but SAU still led 18-16. The two teams kept battling but UAM took their first lead since the 17:39 mark in the first half as they sunk a three to go up 23-22. The two teams continued their fight throughout the remainder of the first half as the Muleriders kept the Boll Weevils within striking distance tying the game up, 28-28 as both teams headed to the locker room for half time.
 
The two teams began the second half the same way they left off the first as they continued their battle exchanging the lead back and forth until the Muleriders took the lead at the 16:51 mark as Junior Williams connected on both of his free throws, 35-33. From there, the Muleriders offense got scorching hot jumping out to a 14-point lead as Chase Jenkins converted a jumper, 52-38. The Boll Weevils continued to fight but the Muleriders extended their lead out to 17-points as Chase Jenkins drained a three. With 8:32 remaining, the Muleriders led 62-45. SAU then continued their onslaught opening up a 19-point lead, 72-53 with 4:05 remaining. The Muleriders offense was just too much for the Boll Weevils to handle tonight inside The W.T. Watson Center as SAU held on to pick up their third win in a row.
 
The offense lit up the scoreboard tonight scoring 52-points in the second half alone after what looked to be a defensive dog fight in the first half. The Muleriders continued their hot shooting from beyond the arc finishing with a mark of 40% from three while also shooting 92.3% from the free throw line. The bench played a big part in the win also with 25 points including 28 team points off of turnovers, and 12 fast break points. Four Muleriders finished scoring in double digits for the game.
"Big team win. The guys guarded and played together," said Head Coach Mark Rutledge. "Extremely proud of how we finished that game in the second half. We still have room to grow but we talked about playing our best ball in February and March. We're trending in the right direction. Can't relax, can't get complacent."
 
Top Performers
Jair Horton: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Chase Jenkins: 14 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound
Greg Moore Jr.: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Junior Williams: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
 
Up Next
The Muleriders will be at home again inside the W.T. Watson Center Saturday, February 14th as the Harding Bisons come to town. Tipoff for the men's game is set for 5:00 p.m. Saturday is also Date Night inside the W.T. as fans will receive candy and various prizes throughout the contest.