Despite a sluggish first half performance, Southern Arkansas opened up the second half on a 17-4 run to set the tone for the final 20 minutes of play.
The Muleriders (14-2, 9-1 GAC) edged Harding 74-70 for the team’s eighth-straight victory; a program record since becoming a member of the NCAA.
The Muleriders continue the program’s best start to a season in the Division II Era (1995-96) which also stands as the best beginning to a campaign since 1989-90.
SAU’s 9-1 record through the season’s first 10 GAC games is the best such start for the program in league play since becoming a member of the conference in 2011-12.
Senior forward Wesley Nosakhare led SAU as he delivered 14 points and seven rebounds and served as a catalyst for the Muleriders’ paint dominance on Saturday.
SAU outscored the Bisons 38-18 inside with 11 of the team’s points coming in second chance opportunities.
At the intermission, the contest was tied at 33 after a first half that saw five tied scores and four lead changes. SAU struggled in the early going as they trailed for the game’s first 10:21, before building a seven-point advantage following a go-ahead bucket from sophomore guard Aaron Lucas that gave SAU a 16-15 lead. The lead would be short lived as the Bison closed the half on a 17-9 run, which ended as Lucas scored a quick fast break bucket off of a late inbound to bring the Muleriders even right before the horn.
Momentum shifted immediately for Southern Arkansas coming out of the break as lengthy sophomore forward Devante Brooks threw down an emphatic left handed slam over two defenders on the first possession of the second half for either team to give the Muleriders a lead that they would not surrender.
Southern Arkansas would use the spark provided by the elder Brooks and turn it into a 20-6 run down to the under-12 media timeout. During that stretch that saw the Muleriders build a 45-37 lead six players got in on the scoring act with senior guard Draylan Perkins, Lucas and freshman guard Jalen Brooks all knocking down three-pointers; the first trifectas of the game for Southern Arkansas.
Leading 53-39 with 11:11 to play, Harding used four three-point makes to climb back into the contest as it cut the deficit to three points at 66-63 with 1:10 remaining. Just as the older Brooks jumpstarted the second half for Southern Arkansas, the younger Brooks made sure it wasn’t in vain as he knocked down a triple try from the left corner to push the lead back to six with 23 seconds to play.
Elkins added a free throw following Harding’s fifth three-pointer of the final 11 minutes, which pulled the Bisons back to within a possession of the lead, and Southern Arkansas held on for the win.
Perkins and Lucas followed Nosakhare in scoring with 11 points each. Redshirt sophomore forward Charlie Thomas collected three blocks and junior guard Frank Royles picked up four steals, while seven players recorded at least three rebounds.
Southern Arkansas prepares for arguably the biggest Oklahoma road swing of its eight-year membership with the Great American Conference.
The Muleriders hit the road for Thursday’s matchups with Oklahoma Baptist (9-7, 8-2 GAC) and Saturday’s battle with Southern Nazarene (15-3, 8-2 GAC), respectively.
Both teams are tied for second in the GAC standings; one game back of the Muleriders.