MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team turned in a stifling defensive effort against Southeastern Oklahoma as SAU allowed the Savage Storm to shot just 26% overall from the floor and 10% from beyond the arc. The payoff for the stout defense was a 67-49 win for the Muleriders on Saturday inside the W.T. Watson Center.
RECORDS
Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm (1-3, 0-2 GAC)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (3-1, 2-0 GAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Muleriders opened the game up on a 7-0 run over the first 2:14 of the game, but Southeastern matched that run with a 7-0 run of their own over the next minute to knot the game at seven-all leading into the first media timeout of the half.
Out of that media timeout, Southeastern kept their run going as Anton Cook buried a three-pointer to put the Savage Storm up 10-7. About a minute later, Cook added a layup to complete what was a 12-0 run by the Savage Storm.
The next nearly 10 minutes of game play were not kind at all to the Savage Storm as the Muleriders defense went into complete shutdown mode, not allowing a single field goal (on nine attempts, two from long range) and forcing five turnovers as well. While Southeastern was held scoreless, SAU rattled off 15 points to claim a double-digit lead at 22-12 with 4:31 left in the opening half.
A pair of made free throws by SE's Nathan Jackson finally broke what was a scoring drought that lasted 10 minutes and 29 seconds.
The Muleriders remained in control the remainder of the half and carried a 12-point advantage into the locker room, 30-18.
Coming out of the break, Southeastern was able to get their offense rolling somewhat as they opened the first 3:40 of the second half on a 10-3 run to make it a five-point game, 33-28.
A CJ Elkins painted jumper and an old fashioned three-point play by Snyder Cenecharlespushed SAU's lead by to double-digits with 15:32 remaining in the game.
At the 13:35 mark, the Savage Storm got as close as they would get the rest of the game to the Muleriders, trailing by six, after a three-pointer by Jett Jobe. Three-consecutive Mulerider baskets followed and doubled that six-point advantage with 11:11 left on the clock.
SAU maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way out and closed on a 9-0 run over the final 4:55 of the game to come away with an 18-point win, 67-49.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Muleriders held the Savage Storm to just 26% shooting overall for the game (18-of-70) and a meager 10% from beyond the arc (2-of-20). Meanwhile, SAU shot 44% overall from the floor for the game (24-of-54) and 28% from long range (5-of-18).
SAU out-rebounded the Savage Storm, 50-44, and the Muleriders got more production off the bench as Southeastern was held scoreless compared to SAU's 27 points from their reserves
SAU improved its field goal percentage by 14.1% from the first to the second half, shooting 52% overall from the floor over the final 20 minutes
Tony Aska played well off the bench with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 6-of-9 success from the charity stripe over 29 minutes of action.
Snyder Cenecharles and CJ Elkins joined Aska in double-figure scoring with Cenecharles scoring 14 and Elkins adding 12, respectively.
Denarious Lockhart hauled in a season-high 13 rebounds with nine coming on the defensive glass
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now step out of conference play for their next two games and will first go on the road on Tuesday, November 22 to take on Texas A&M-Commerce. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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