MAGNOLIA, AR - Henderson State got 16 points from Ben Marello and had two other players in double figures, but fell on Saturday afternoon 74-64 to Southern Arkansas in Magnolia.

The Reddies got off to a good start on the road, and jumped out to an early 18-12 lead at the 11:17 mark of the first period. SAU battled back quickly to retake the lead 21-20 and from there the rest of the first half was neck-and-neck as the teams traded buckets over the next three minutes. With the Muleriders up 32-30, Henderson went on a 9-2 run over the last 5:51 to seize a 39-34 lead at the break and the momentum away from SAU.

Henderson held off the Muleriders at the beginning of the second half, but slowly SAU began to chip away at the lead, eventually retaking it 51-48 with 12:13 to go in the game. Both squads traded baskets over the next four minutes, but with SAU up 57-56 and 8:13 to go the tide shifted in the Muleriders favor, as they went on a 13-3 run over the next seven minutes to seize a 71-59 advantage with just 1:27 left in the game. The Reddies cut it to nine in the last minute on a layup and dunk by Brad Nairn, but it was too late, as SAU pulled away for a 74-64 win.

Marello led Henderson with 16 points, while Kaylon Tappin added 11 and Chris Hawkins had 10. The Reddies won the rebounding battle 44-37, but shot just 34 percent from the field and were 3-for-22 from the 3-point line in the loss. The defeat drops Henderson to 8-9 in Great American Conference play and 13-10 on the season. 

The Reddies next game is Monday at 7:30 p.m. against rival Ouachita Baptist in the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia.