---

Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Men's Basketball continues their three-game home stand on Saturday afternoon by welcoming Southern Arkansas to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center
- Both teams are looking to improve their standing in the Great American Conference, with SWOSU currently ninth in the league at 1-4, one game ahead of Southern Arkansas at 0-5
- Since the formation of the GAC, SWOSU has a record of 5-1 against SAU in games played in Weatherford, including wins in each of the last two seasons
- Southern Arkansas is 0-4 on the road this year following an 84-63 setback on Thursday night in Alva against Northwestern Oklahoma State
- SWOSU enters the game following an 82-73 defeat against Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday evening which dropped the Dawgs to 1-5 in home games this season
 
The Opponent
Southern Arkansas (4-7, 0-5 GAC)
- The Muleriders are one of two Great American Conference teams still looking for their first league win of the season following a loss at Northwestern Okla. on Thursday
- SAU is 1-7 against NCAA Division II competition this year, with a victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead to their credit at the GAC/NSIC Challenge
- Ranked fifth in the GAC in scoring offense with 80.5 points per game, led by Draylan Perkins and CJ Elkins with 12.9 points per game
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Kris Johnson (1-1, 1st season) * Interim
- Named the interim head coach at SWOSU for the remainder of the 2017-18 season on December 13 following the retirement of head coach Bob Battisti
- Now in his seventh season as an assistant coach at SWOSU, including the last four-plus years as the lead assistant to Battisti
- A native of Kansas City, Mo., Johnson came to SWOSU following a four-year playing career at Northwestern Oklahoma State
 
Southern Arkansas: Andy Sharpe (71-81, 6th season)
- In his sixth season at SAU, Sharpe has led the Muleriders to five consecutive GAC Tournament Appearnaces with two winning seasons to his credit
- Previously spent five years at NAIA Martin Methodist College in Tennessee, leading the RedHawks to the national tournament three times
 
Checking the Standings
- Southern Nazarene remained unblemished in conference play with a victory over Harding on Thursday, improving to 6-0 in GAC action
- Wins by Arkansas Tech, Northwestern Oklahoma State and East Central kept the trio one game behind SNU in the loss column at 4-1
- Arkansas-Monticello and Southeastern Oklahoma State also remain above .500 at 3-2 after picking up wins on Thursday
- SWOSU is tied with Henderson State for ninth in the standings at 1-4, one game behind Ouachita and Oklahoma Baptist
 
The Series (GAC Era)
Date                Location                     Score
*1/21/2012       Magnolia, Ark.              W 62-56
*2/18/2012       Weatherford, Okla.      W 74-65
*12/1/2012       Weatherford, Okla.      W 61-58
*1/31/2013       Magnolia, Ark.              L 66-69 (OT)
*11/23/2013     Magnolia, Ark.              W 76-68
*1/30/2014       Weatherford, Okla.      W 72-63
3/6/2014          Bartlesville, Okla.         L 59-63
*1/10/2015       Weatherford, Okla.      L 73-81
*2/14/2015       Magnolia, Ark.              W 76-70
*12/5/2015       Magnolia, Ark.              W 77-74
*2/6/2016         Weatherford, Okla.      W 71-69
3/3/2016          Bartlesville, Okla.         L 82-83
*12/3/2016       Weatherford, Okla.      W 80-76
*2/2/2017         Magnolia, Ark.             L 65-76
 
GAC Era: SWOSU leads 9-5
In Weatherford: SWOSU leads 5-1
In Magnolia: SWOSU leads 4-2
In Bartlesville: SAU leads 2-0
 
SWOSU Notes
- SWOSU attempted a season-high 32 three-point field goals on Thursday against Arkansas-Monticello, knocking down 11 for a 34.4% clip
- Daniel Eibel knocked down 3-of-9 three-point attempts against UAM, giving him 18 made three's this season
- SWOSU's leading scorer, Charles Beauregard, Jr. battled foul trouble against UAM and was limited to eight points in 18 minutes of action
- Devin Pugh finished with 16 points for the second straight game in the matchup with UAM, his third straight game with 14 or more points scored
- Justin King has also scored in double figures in three straight games after scoring 13 points in 20 minutes against UAM before fouling out
- For the second straight game, Collin Jennings led SWOSU in rebounds with eight, giving him 19 (9.5 per game) since making his season debut against Randall
- Nick Shoemaker extended his streak of games with a made three-pointer to 26 after going 1-for-4 from long range against Arkansas-Monticello
- Shoemaker is the Bulldogs top outside threat, hitting 25-of-56 (44.6%) three-point attempts for the season
 
Looking Ahead
- Next up for the Bulldogs is a home contest against East Central on Thursday night, set for 5:30 pm in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center
- SWOSU takes to the road next Saturday for an in-state showdown with Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant