MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Freddy Lee notched 23 points, but the Wonder Boys (6-10 Great American Conference, 8-14 overall) were unable to complete the comeback in the final seconds of the GAC matchup against Southern Arkansas (12-4 GAC,17-5 overall) on Saturday afternoon at W.T. Watson Center in Magnolia.
 
NEXT UP

• The Wonder Boys will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 14, hosting the GAC rematch against Harding. A 5:30 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wonder Boys controlled the pace to begin the game, jumping out to an 11-2 lead the first four minutes of the game.
• The Muleriders came storming back, tying the game at 11-11 with a seven-point run. 
• SAU then took a four-point lead, 11-15, six and a half minutes into the game.
• The Wonder Boys knotted the game back up at 15-15 then saw a flurry of baskets on both ends that ended with Tech trailing 25-28 with 3:11 remaining in the first half. 
• Both teams recorded ten more points apiece in the remainder of the half to leave the score at 35-38 going into the break.
• SAU began the second half with a seven-point run, improving their lead to 45-35 in the first minute and a half. 
• Tech answered by scoring ten points and allowing a single basket, cutting the SAU lead to 45-47 with 14:27 remaining.
• The Muleriders soon grabbed another ten-point lead, however, improving to 37-47 with 12 minutes remaining.
• Tech scored two baskets to draw within six points again in the next two minutes and held SAU to a single made free throw until there were ten and a half minutes remaining.
• SAU pushed back ahead with a basket and a pair of free throws to lead by 11, 62-51.
• Tech stayed in the game, however, scoring seven unanswered points, including a three-pointer by Josiah Thomas, to cut the SAU lead to 58-62 with 8:36 remaining. 
• SAU then outscored Tech 4-6 in the next three minutes to lead 62-68 with 5:43 remaining. 
• However, Tech cut the lead to just three points, 67-70, by draining five points and allowing just one SAU basket with 3:38 remaining. 
• SAU pulled back out with a five point lead off a pair of free throws, until Ramses Sandifer drew the Wonder Boys within two, 70-72, with an old-fashioned three-point play with 2:48 remaining. 
• SAU drained a layup to take a 70-74 lead, but Sandifer again answered back with a three-pointer as the Wonder Boys trailed by just one point with a minute and a half remaining.
• The teams then exchanged two points each, Tech's coming from a pair of free throws by Freddy Lee, as Tech again trailed by one, 75-76, with 21 seconds remaining.
• The Wonder Boys were forced to foul to stop the clock and the Muleriders scored their final two points on a pair of free throws.
• The Wonder Boys' desperation shot in the game's final seconds was unsuccessful and they fell to the Muleriders.

NOTABLES

• Lee was one of four Wonder Boys to have point totals in the double digits. Ramses Sandifer recorded 16 points, while Will Adler and Alex Brown added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
• Lee also led Tech in assists with seven.
• Sandifer added a team-high seven rebounds, while Adler recorded three blocked shots.
• The Wonder Boys were narrowly outshot by the Muleriders, 39.7% to 40.6%.