MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Charles Beauregard, Jr., scored a game-high 26 points – his seventh 20-point game in the last nine outings – but it was Southern Arkansas exiting the Watson Athletic Center victorious after defeating SWOSU 85-80 on Thursday evening.
The game was hotly contested in the early going with eight ties and 15 lead changes in the first 17 minutes before Southern Arkansas took the lead with 2:18 to play in the first half. Those final two minutes of the half would prove to be the difference as SAU pushed their lead out to eight, 45-37, at the break after CJ Elkins connected on a three-pointer in the final seconds of the half.
SAU came out of the locker room and scored the first four points of the second half to run their lead to 12 at 49-27 with 19:19 to play, leaving SWOSU playing from behind for the rest of the game. To their credit, the Bulldogs continued to scrap and battle, eventually getting as close as four points on a three-pointer from
Geoffery Hightower in the final minute. SAU made 10-of-12 free throws over the final 1:08, allowing the Muleriders to hang on for the victory.
Beauregard led SWOSU with 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting, which included knocking down 3-of-9 three-pointers and 3-of-4 free throws.
Jefkins Agyeman-Budu chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds while
Devin Pugh added 12 points and
Justin King had eight points in limited minutes off the bench before fouling out.
Nick Shoemaker was held scoreless for the first time this season, going 0-for-3 from the field to snap a streak of 36 consecutive games with a made three-pointer.
SWOSU (3-19, 1-15 GAC) is back in action on Saturday, taking on Arkansas-Monticello at 3:00 pm in Monticello.
