LANCASTER, Texas - Newman's men's basketball team played the first game of the day at the GAC/MIAA Challenge this afternoon as they took on the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas. The Jets would come into this matchup looking for their first win of the young season. 

SAU would score the first basket of the game. Marshawn Blackmon would score a layup to even the score at 2-2. DeAndre Johnson would make a free throw a minute and a half in to give the Jets the lead. A lead that they would never give back to the Muleriders as the Jets would lead for the rest of the game. The Jets were able to build their lead up to nine points after a Blackmon jumper to cap an 11-0 run giving Newman an 11-2 lead.

The Muleriders were able to cut the Jets lead to just 3 after a jumper by Trey Davis made the score 11-8. With just under five minutes left to play in the first half Juwan Davenport was able to extend the Newman lead back to eight as he made a layup, giving the Jets a 25-17. David Javorsky was able to answer a Mulerider three with a three of his own to make the score 28-20. The Jets would take a 30-23 lead into the half. 

The Jets would open the scoring in the second half with a layup from DeAndre Johnson. Three and a half minutes into the second half DeAndre Johnson was able to score another layup and extend the Jets lead to 11. With a score of 41-32, the Muleriders would make two threes to cut the Jets lead to just 3 points. Johnson would score another layup to get the Jets lead back to 10 points as they led 52-42 with 6:24 left to play.

Southern Arkansas would then go on a 7-0 run to cut into the Jets lead making the score 52-49. The Jets were able to build their lead back up to 5 before back to back SAU layups cut the Jets lead to 2 points with 2:28 remaining. An Omar Boone three would extend the Newman lead back to 8 with a 1:24 to play. A Southern Arkansas three would cut the Jets lead to 4 with 0:27 but that's as close as it would get. 

Marshawn Blackmon lead the Jets with 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double on back to back nights. DeAndre Johnson was the Jets next leading scorer with 14 points and 6 boards. Juwan Davenport and David Javorsky would both add 8 points each.

The Jets will be back in action on Wednesday, November 13 as they take on Manhattan Christian at 7:00 P.M.