Box Score BETHANY, Okla. — Garrett Butler scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, 10 of which came in a 1:47 span that helped Southern Nazarene back from a 10-point deficit to a 71-66 win over Arkansas-Monticello.
 
The Crimson Storm (6-6, 4-2 GAC) trailed 62-52, the Boll Weevils' (10-3, 4-2 GAC) biggest lead of the night, with 8:11 to play. SNU then got a 3-pointer by Francisco Hukill and a free throw from Quan Conner to cut it to 62-56 with 6:35 left. Then came 10-straight points by Butler to cap a 14-1 run, which included a pair of in-rhythm 3-pointers, as SNU jumped out to a 66-63 lead. The Storm then got timely stops and hit enough free throws down the stretch to knock off the GAC leaders.
 
"We fought really hard tonight to get back into it," said SNU Head Coach Adam Bohac. "They (UAM) hit just seven baskets in the second half, so we did some really good things defensively. We were our own worst enemy giving up that many turnovers and 17 offensive rebounds, but to our kids' credit they stayed together. We were real fortunate to win tonight."
 
Butler went 5-for-6 from the field and buried all three 3-point attempts. Dartanyon Meggs finished with a career-high 17 points as the sophomore went 6-for-9 from the field and added five rebounds and two steals as well. Meggs had 12 of those points in the first half. CJ Smith added 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Conner had 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.
 
"Dartanyon was huge in the first half with energy and spirit and Garrett was big in the end and that was the difference," said Bohac. "I have to do a better job of getting Quan and CJ some better shots and more shots in the flow. They also have to do a better job of letting it come to them."
 
SNU hit over 50 percent for the fourth time this season going 21-for-41 from the field and were 7-for-15 from 3-point range. The Storm shot at least 30 free throws for the fourth time this season going 22-for-31 at the charity stripe. Conner went 9-for-11 at the line.
 
Despite turning the ball over 26 times, SNU had the upper hand in converting off mishaps. The Storm had 28 points off of 17 UAM turnovers while the Weevils had just 22.
 
SNU led by as much as 11 in the first half at 43-32 with 2:30 in the opening stanza. Monticello though cut it to 43-41 at the break and the two teams didn't hold a lead larger than three until a 13-2 run by UAM gave them that 62-52 lead late.
 
"We've practiced a lot better than we played tonight," said Bohac. "Give Monticello credit, but I feel like we're going to play well because we've practiced so well lately."
 
Southern Nazarene now turns it attention to Southern Arkansas for a 4 p.m. GAC game Saturday inside the Sawyer Center.