DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State travels to the Natural State for the first time this season for GAC action against Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello. The Savage Storm opens with the Muleriders first on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. before heading to Monticello to clash with the Weevils at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan 11.
STORM WATCH
Southeastern (3-9, 1-5) saw its lead slip away against Southwestern Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon in a 74-68 defeat. SE held the advantage in field goal percentage and at the glass, but the Bulldogs were more efficient from beyond the arc and went 14-of-19 at the foul compared to the Storm, who were just 8-of-11.
For the second game in a row, the blue and gold struggled to get going shooting the three-ball after being held to 28.6 percent (4-14) shooting. The Storm have combined for just eight three-pointers across their last two games despite averaging 8.9 per game. Southeastern leads the league in total triples made with 107 and is converting at a 36.9 percent clip, which ranks fourth among the GAC.
Santiago Camacho Gomez continues his form after returning from injury, posting his second straight double-digit point game with 14 versus SWOSU and chipped in six assists and rebounds. The sophomore guard is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, and ranks second in assists with 3.2 per game.
Robert Briley posted his second double-double in three games against the Bulldogs with 12 points and 10 rebounds and is averaging 10.4 points per game and 8.4 rebounds for the season.
SE will look to make it four wins in a row versus Southern Arkansas on Thursday. The Storm swept the season series last year and would defeat the Muleriders in the first round of the GAC Tournament to finish 3-0 versus SAU in 2023-24. However, the Muleriders hold the slight edge in the head-to-head matchup, 31-29, and are 20-7 all-time in games in Magnolia versus the Storm.
Southeastern has won its last six games against Arkansas-Monticello and leads the series 18-11. Saturday's contest will mark the 30
th game between the two sides in a series that dates back to 1986. In last season's two wins, Briley combined for 26 points and seven rebounds, while
Landon Condiff totaled 18 points.
PREVIEWING SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
Southern Arkansas is under new leadership in 2024-25, with first-year head coach Mark Rutledge taking over the Muleriders. SAU sits 4-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play after a 76-61 defeat at home to Harding. Similar to the Storm, the Muleriders have hit a rough patch, with one win in their last seven games back on Dec. 12 against Ouachita Baptist 95-94.
Statistically, Southern Arkansas ranks seventh in scoring offense with 77.8 points per game, led by BJ Davis, who is averaging 13.4 points. The Muleriders have leaned on its three-point shooting abilities, as they rank 12
th in field goal percentage (41.0) and are ninth in three-point field goal percentage (31.3) and tied with SE for the most triples this season (107). Davis leads the efforts from beyond the arc with 31 treys this season on a 37.8 percent clip.
PREVIEWING ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
The Weevils are still in search of their first GAC win, as they sit 0-6 in the league standings and hold a 3-9 overall mark. Arkansas-Monticello has struggled to get to the baskets this season, as they rank 12
th in scoring (56.3 ppg) and are tenth in field goal parentage and 12
th in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 42.6 and 27.5 percent, respectively. UAM's Seth Grandberry leads the team with 13.3 points per game, while Jamir Turner paces the side with 5.5 rebounds per contest.
