Southern Arkansas Muleriders men's basketball

The Southern Arkansas men's basketball program is the college basketball program that represents Southern Arkansas University, competing in the Great American Conference. The program began as early as 1911. Though it has been sporadic, the Muleriders have had successes on the hardwood.

Southern Arkansas Muleriders
UniversitySouthern Arkansas University
Head coachAndy Sharpe (8th season)
ConferenceGreat American Conference
LocationMagnolia, Arkansas
ArenaW.T. Watson Athletic Center
(capacity: 2,500)
NicknameMuleriders
ColorsRoyal blue and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
NAIA: 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1989
Conference tournament champions
Southeastern Junior College Championship: 1948
NAIA District 17: 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1983, 1990
Conference regular season champions
AIC: 1934, 1935, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1989
GAC: 2021 (Eastern Division)

Coaches

edit

There have been 9 Mulerider Basketball coaches since 1947. The school's all-time winningest coach was W.T. Watson. Watson also lead the Muleriders' to three conference regular season championships. Watson's contributions to SAU as basketball coach and later athletic director lead to the Muleriders home gym to be named the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

Southern Arkansas Coaching History[2]
Tenure Coach Seasons Won Lost Pct. Conf. Champs.
1927–1937 Ves Godley 11 80 59 .576 1934, 1935
1937–1946 Unknown n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1946–1954 Elmer Smith 7 108 74 .593
1954–1957 P.T. "Duddy" Waller 3 45 24 .652
1957–1963 Delwin T. Ross 6 39 86 .312
1963–1980 W.T. Watson 17 300 151 .665 1966, 1967, 1971
1980–1997 Monroe Ingram 17 257 193 .571 1990
1997–1998 Burt West 1 12 14 .462
1998–2005 Brian Daugherty 7 84 106 .442
2005–2012 Eric Bozeman 7 73 116 .386
2012–Present Andy Sharpe 9 127 118 .518 2021
TOTAL 85 1,125 941 .545 7 (1934, 1935, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1990, 2021)

Players

edit

1500 Point Club

edit

Six players have scored more than 1,500 points in their Mulerider careers.

1500 Point Club
No. Player Year
2290 John Holmes 1986–1990
1886 Greg Alexander 1975–1979
1647 Calvin Thomas 1949–1954
1609 Alfred Flanigan 1968–1972
1604 Billy Barnes 1967–1971
1556 Shawn Mason 1998–2002
 
The Muleriders men's basketball team in action against the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions in 2013

All-Americans

edit

Eight players have been named to an All-American team a total of ten times.

All-Americans
No. Player Year
1968–1969 Donnie Denton HM
1970–1971 Billy Barnes HM
1973–1974 James Armstrong HM
1973–1974 Johnny White HM
1978–1979 Greg Alexander HM
1987–1988 Dwayne Smith HM
1988–1989 John Holmes 2nd
1989–1990 John Holmes 1st
1990–1991 John Holmes 1st
1993–1994 Cedric Williams HM

Postseason results

edit
 
The Muleriders men's basketball team in action against Texas A&M–Commerce in 2014

NAIA National Tournament results

edit

Southern Arkansas has appeared in the NAIA National Tournament six times. Their combined record is 2–6.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1957 First Round Western Illinois L 70–101
1966 First Round
Second Round
Guilford, NC
Georgia Southern
W 72–67
L 62–80
1967 First Round
Second Round
East Montana
St. Benedict's
W 75–62
L 56–67
1971 First Round Eau Claire L 50–66
1983 First Round Ft. Hayes St. L 65–71
1989 First Round Siena Heights L 70–83

Arena

edit

The W.T. Watson Center, a 2,500-seat multipurpose arena, is home to the SAU men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the SAU volleyball team.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Colors". Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  2. ^ "2014–2015 Media Guide". MuleridersAthletics.com. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  3. ^ "Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum ". AuburnTigers.cstv.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
edit