SEARCY, Ark. — Southern Nazarene entered tonight's game as the top 3-point shooting team in the Great American Conference and ranked second in scoring offense and field goal percentage. SNU took a step back tonight, shooting just 26.1 percent from beyond the arc in an 86-57 loss to Harding.
 
The Crimson Storm (3-4, 2-1 GAC) committed a season-high 18 turnovers on the night, compared to just 11 committed by the Bisons. Harding scored the first seven points of the game, while Southern Nazarene missed its first six shots from the field. SNU then went on a 9-0 run of its own, thanks to four points by CJ Rodriguez along with a 3-ball by Garrett Butler.
 
However, Harding answered with 10 consecutive points to begin a 17-3 run. By halftime, the Bisons had built a 41-28 lead while shooting 41.2 percent from 3-point range. Rodriguez led the Crimson Storm at the half with nine points, with Butler and Noah Starkey chipping in six points of their own.
 
When the two teams came out of the intermission, Harding started to pull away. The Bisons started the second half with a 13-4 lead as the Crimson Storm continued their rough shooting night. SNU went just 9-of-26 shooting and 3-of-11 from long range in the second half. Harding, on the other hand, shot 44.4 percent from the field on its way to outscoring Southern Nazarene 45-29 in the second half.
 
Rodriguez led the Crimson Storm in scoring with 18 points, while adding three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Butler added 10 points and was the only other SNU player in double figures. Noah Starkey added career-highs in points and blocks, scoring eight points while adding four rejections on the defensive end.