Muleriders pull away from Paul Quinn College in second half

MAGNOLIA, Ark. Southern Arkansas picked up its third straight victory on Saturday afternoon inside the W.T. Watson Center as the Muleriders scored 52 second-half points to pull away from Paul Quinn College 93-66.

The Muleriders (3-1) led by just seven points at the halftime break, but its 41 first-half points came on 48.2% (13-of-27) shooting, including six first-half three pointers. SAU sank eight more trifectas in the final twenty minutes as the unit shot 59% from the floor in the second half. Paul Quinn triggered at 43% in the first half as the Tigers managed to keep the contest at a two possession deficit into the break, but the Mulerider defense hardened up in the second half forcing the Tigers to a 27% (7-of26) shooting clip.

Southern Arkansas doubled up PQC in fast break points as the Muleriders were off and running often in the victory which saw the team turn 19 turnovers into 24 points, including 17 in the second half as part of the distancing act performed by the Muleriders. Inside, SAU went for 36 points and grabbed twenty more rebounds than the Tigers.

SAU carried a six-point advantage to the 13:56 mark of the second half, but began to pull away as DeVante Brooks scored inside and Frank Royles and Jalen Brooks each drained a three-pointer as part of an 8-2 Mulerider run.

Leading by a dozen points with just under 11 minutes to play, D. Brooks rocked the house with a thundering dunk moments before Snyder Cenecharles knocked down a fast break triple try to give SAU a 17 point lead. With the clock under ten minutes, the younger Brooks got in on the dunking act by sending in a fast break slam as part of Southern Arkansas' overall 15-2 run that made it 71-52.

J. Brooks scored inside again and Trey Davis hit one from range to build the Muleriders' lead to 24 with 7:54 remaining in the game. The Tigers finally knocked down a free throw to end the scoring drought, but SAU would score two more times, before PQC connected on a pair of FTs with 6:12 left. In the final 13:56, SAU closed the game on a 37-16 run.

Gilliam triggered 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three-point range and collected four rebounds, while Draylan Perkins followed with 16 points, five boards and three assists. D. Brooks played a teamhigh 23 minutes and grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with ten points in a double-double effort. J. Brooks added ten points and five rebounds and was responsible for one of SAU's 11 steals. Cenecharles, Davis, Royles and CJ Elkins each picked up two steals.