MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Mike Balogun turned in a 19-point performance, while D.J. Jethroe and Branden Williams reached double figures off the bench with 15 and 12 points, respectively, but the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team (9-11, 5-7 GAC) was unable to overcome the stellar rebounding and hot shooting of Southern Arkansas (13-5, 9-3 GAC), dropping a 109-80 decision to the Muleriders on Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

The Muleriders held a 63-35 advantage in rebounding, including a 21-6 advantage on the offensive glass that gave SAU a 32-2 advantage in second-chance points.

The Wonder Boys brought out the fireworks early, as Jay Murphy fed Gary Gaskins on an alley-oop slam just 12 seconds into the game, but the Muleriders quietly tied the contest just 15 seconds later.

The two teams would trade leads five times over the first two minutes of the game, before SAU's Chauncy Williams buried a 3-pointer at the 17:32 mark to push the Muleriders ahead 10-7.

It was a lead that SAU would not surrender, as the Wonder Boys were able to pull to within one five times over the next nine minutes, but each time the Muleriders were able to pad their lead. At the 7:35 mark, Aaron Francis hit a layup that keyed a 22-8 run to finish the half, sending the Muleriders into the intermission with a 55-40 lead.

The Muleriders continued the momentum through the second half, leading by as many as 32 down the stretch.

Tech was 11-of-29 from long-range, but the Muleriders knocked down 12 3-pointers of their own, including seven in the second half. SAU shot 47.1 percent from the floor while the Wonder Boys shot 40.9 percent.

Tech continues its road swing on Saturday, Jan. 31, facing Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia. A 3 p.m. tip is scheduled.