BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene University gained the most yards in a single game since Nov. 3, 2012, as SNU had 438 yards of total offense in a 31-26 loss to East Central.
 
The Crimson Storm (0-5, 0-5 GAC) threw for 305 yards and ran for 133 yards as they totaled the most yards they have had against a Great American Conference opponent since joining the GAC. It was the most rushing yards since the final game of the 2013 season and the most passing yards since Oct. 13, 2012.
 
Lorenzo Alexander rushed for a career-high 139 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. James Mauro threw for 292 yards and a touchdown as he completed 19 of his 29 passing attempts. He also threw just one interception and was sacked only twice. Mauro's favorite target was Austin Williams as they connected eight times for 118 yards. Johnathan Martin had four catches for 39 yards, and a touchdown, pass while James Reed IV had three catches for 65 yards.
 
Malcom Davis also played a big role for the Crimson Storm as the freshman punter averaged 38 yards per punt on four punts and landed two inside the 20 with one at the one-yard line.
 
Matthew Gregg and Michael Hicks led the way on the defensive side as Gregg had 12 tackles, two for a loss of five yards, and Hicks had nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass break up.
 
East Central outgained SNU by jut seven yards with 44 yards of total offense. The Tigers (3-2, 3-2 GAC)  had 195 yards rushing and 250 yards passing.
 
Southern Nazarene took its first lead all year when it scored with 7:49 to play on a 52-yard scamper by Alexander on the second drive of the game. It was just the third play in the drive and completed a 59-yard effort. ECU answered on its next two drives to take a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
 
SNU cut it to 14-13 with 9:16 to play in the half when Mauro found Martin on an 18-yard strike to complete an 8-play, 81-yard drive. The extra point was blocked and ECU stretched it to 21-13 with 4:11 left in the half. The Storm though didn't go away and used the full 4:11 left to cut it to one at the half.
 
SNU had a second-and-goal at the six when Mauro flipped ball to Alexander and then to Martin for the reverse, but Martin found Williams in the back of the end zone as Southern Nazarene was down just one at the half.
 
The Tigers scored on their first drive of the second half to lead 28-20 and took that lead into the fourth quarter. The Storm were marching late in the fourth when Maruo completed a 26-yard pass to Dakota Chandler, but went down hard with an injury and did not return. Alec Laffoon came on to finish the drive and capped it with a nine-yard yard to put the Storm within in two at 28-26. The two-point conversion failed and ECU tacked on three more on the ensuing drive to lead 31-26.
 
The Storm went three-and-out on its next possession and had ECU with a third down and three to go, but ECU picked up a first down to put it away.