SWOSU Men's Basketball (7-6, 4-4 GAC) has lost two games in a row for the first time this year but now returns to Weatherford for two home matches, first against Southern Arkansas on Thursday before a matinee matchup with Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday.

Both Henderson State and Ouachita shot over 50% from the field, only the second and third times it has happened to the Bulldogs in GAC play. Against the Tigers, SWOSU managed to make only three shots from beyond the arc, the lowest in conference play.

Southern Arkansas (5-9, 2-6 GAC) enters this game coming off a 70-68 loss to ECU. They are led by BJ Davis at 12.9 points per game, one of three 10+ ppg scorers for the Muleriders, along with Anthony Igiede (10.4 ppg) and Rashad Bishop (10.1 ppg). Igiede also leads the team in steals with 1.6 per game. SAU has the worst field goal percentage in the GAC at 41.6%. They average the most offensive rebounds in the conference at 13.4 per game but give up the most rebounds to opponents, with over 38 per game.

The all-time series has been a back-and-forth affair, with SWOSU leading 14-13 dating back to January 2012. The Dawgs hold a 7-5 lead inside the PEC, including a win on February 3, 2024, in their last matchup.

Tobias Roland comes into the week averaging 15.0 ppg (ninth in GAC), while MJ Warrior adds 12.1 ppg, dishing out an even 5 assists per game (second in GAC) and 1.6 steals per game (eighth in GAC). SWOSU ranks 10th in scoring at 68.6 ppg and fifth in scoring defense at 71.3 ppg. The Dawgs provide the third-best opponent three-point percentage at 31.4% and free throw percentage (76%).

Seth Grandberry leads the scoring for Monticello with 14.1 ppg. Arkansas-Monticello (4-10, 1-7 GAC) enters with the worst record in the GAC and has the lowest-scoring offense in the GAC at just 57.1 ppg and the second-worst margin at -3.0. However, they boast the best defense in the league, allowing only 60.1 ppg, compared to SWOSU's fifth-ranked defense at 71.3 ppg. The Weevils have the lowest three-point percentage (27.1%) and makes per game (4.6) in the GAC; their 4.6 per game is the third lowest in all of Division II.

The Weevils' last three games in conference, and four of their last five, have been decided by five points or fewer.

In another close all-time series, the Weevils hold a 14-12 all-time lead, including wins in the teams' last three matchups. SWOSU's last win came on January 5, 2023, in Weatherford, 78-65.