Box Score MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Who says stats don't lie? Despite getting out shot, out rebounded and a few other statistical anomalies, Southern Nazarene escaped Thursday night with a big win on the road 58-56 over Southern Arkansas.
 
The difference came at the line and from 3-point range as SNU hit eight 3-pointers and went 12-of-15 at the line. The win marks the first time this year the Crimson Storm (11-10, 9-6 GAC) have won three straight and picked up their first win on the road since Jan. 2. The win also keeps SNU in fourth place in the Great American Conference.
 
Quan Conner and Garrett Butler combined for seven of the eight treys and 27 points as Butler had 15 and conner had 12. Conner also had three assists. CJ Smith, who led all scorers with 20, was SNU answer at the line as he was a perfect 8-for-8. He also had five boards, two assists and two steals.
 
SNU shot just 33.9 percent from the field while SAU shot 39.6 percent. The Muleriders also shot 81.8 percent from the line (9-11). Southern Arkansas outscored the Storm in the paint 28-16 and had 19 points off of turnovers and SNU turned it over just 11 times.
 
Neither team led by more than seven at any points in the game with 11 lead changes and eight ties. The Muleriders led for a majority of the first half until SNU took its first lead of the half on a Smith layup to put the storm up 23-21 with four minutes left. SNU pushed it to 27-23, before SAU scored five straight to end the half and took a 28-27 lead at the break.
 
Southern Arkansas led by as much as five in early in the second half and were up 46-42 when scored five straight to take a 47-46 lead with 7:12 to play on another Smith layup. The two traded three more leads and SAU held the advantage from the 5:38 mark until the 1:20 mark.
 
The Muleriders led 56-53 with 1:34 left to play when Butler hit an off-balanced shot from the right side after he was fouled. A made free throw tied it at 56 with 1:20 to play. SNU got a stop and then got a big offensive rebound from Antwon Jackson after a missed run at the hoop to give the Storm a 58-56 lead with eight seconds left.
 
SAU had a chance to tie or win, but turned it over with two seconds left to give the Storm the win.
 
Southern Nazarene will try to pick up another win on the road, Saturday, as it travels to Arkansas-Monticello for a 4 p.m. GAC contest.