Courtesy Southern Arkansas University Athletics Department
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – It took an extra five minutes of game time, but the Southern Arkansas men’s basketball team was able to give their four seniors a win in their final game at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center as the Muleriders edged visiting Arkansas-Monticello by a score of 70-68 on Thursday night in Magnolia.
The Muleriders (10-15, 6-13 GAC), who controlled much of the game, were forced into their fifth overtime game of the season as the Boll Weevils’ (16-9, 11-8 GAC) Josh Gibson hit one of two free throws with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the game up at 59-all. Prior to that tie score, Southern Arkansas had held a lead since the 2:03 mark of the first half.
In the opening minutes of the overtime period, the Muleriders hit the glass hard on both ends and raced out to a six-point advantage, 65-59, with 3:02 left in overtime. Tevin Worthy was a catalyst in that run as he turned two offensive rebounds into two buckets for the Muleriders.
SAU would grow their lead out to as much as eight points with 1:18 remaining, but the Boll Weevils would then go on a 7-0 run over the next 58 seconds of the game to pull to within one point, 69-68, with 14 seconds remaining in overtime. Worthy, who got the Muleriders rolling in overtime, was fouled on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws to put the Muleriders up by two points, 70-68.
On the other end of the court, UAM’s Dayton Mickens put up a contested three-pointer as he tried to give the Boll Weevils the win, but his shot would draw iron as time expired giving the Muleriders a much-needed 70-68 overtime win.
With the combination SAU’s win and the loss of East Central on Thursday night, the Muleriders have increased their chances of making the Great American Conference Tournament as they now control their destiny with one regular season game remaining.
Southern Arkansas is guaranteed to make the tournament if they beat Henderson State on Saturday, or they can also make the tournament if both they and East Central lose. Should Southern Arkansas and East Central finish with the same conference record; the league’s tie-breaking procedures will be in effect to determine who makes the tournament.
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