BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Junior guard CJ Elkins scored 16 points and freshman forward DeVante Brooks finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards, but a resilient effort from seventh-seeded Southern Arkansas came up just short in a 76-71 defeat to second-seeded Northwestern Oklahoma in the Great American Conference Quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon from inside Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The Rangers manufactured a 12-point lead with just under eight minutes to play in the first half of Thursday's tournament opener and appeared to be in control of the contest as Southern Arkansas struggled in the early going, but the Muleriders rallied to pull within a point of the lead at the intermission.

The game, which was the first postseason meeting between the schools in 13 total matchups on the hardwood, featured six lead changes and two ties all of which took place in the final twenty minutes of action.

Southern Arkansas matched the Rangers shot for shot through the first 11 minutes of the second half, which included taking a one-point lead in three separate occasions, while a pair of free throw makes from freshman guard Aaron Lucas brought the Muleriders to within a possession of the lead at 55-53 with 8:55 to play.

Late in the game, the Rangers' lead grew to as much as 11 with 2:28 remaining, but Southern Arkansas would not go easily as a free throw from Brooks cut the SAU deficit to ten, moments before senior guard Keeton Tennison knocked down a triple-try with 1:52 to play to bring the Muleriders to within seven-points of tying the game.

The following Northwestern Oklahoma possession resulted in a turnover as Lucas picked up a steal that led to Brooks connecting on an off-glass three-pointer to bring the Muleriders to within four points of the Rangers at 70-66 with 90 seconds to play. In the final minute, the Rangers pushed the lead back to seven with an inside bucket and connected on a pair of free throws in two separate trips to the foul line in the final 35 seconds to hold off Southern Arkansas.

Northwestern Oklahoma, who entered with the league's second-best three-point shooting clip, knocked down nine trifectas in 21 attempts with six of those makes coming in the first half. The Rangers finished at 50.9% (29-of-57) from the floor overall, while the Muleriders shot 44.8% (26-of-58) overall, while converting six of their 24 three-point attempts and 13-of-24 from the free throw stripe.

An All-GAC Honorable Mention selection, Elkins finished as the leading scorer for Southern Arkansas for the twelfth time this season with his aforementioned 16 points. Brooks' 12 points came on 5-of-8 shooting, while freshman big man Charlie Thomas and Lucas each added ten points. Thomas and senior guard/forward KJ Collins each grabbed six rebounds.

Keep up-to-date on Southern Arkansas University Athletics at http://www.MuleriderAthletics.com.