BETHANY, Okla. — Talk about protecting home court. After Southern Nazarene University had not won back-to-back games since the start of the season, SNU swept its four-game home stand and put a stamp on it with a 77-69 win over Southern Arkansas.
 
The win gave the Crimson Storm (12-9, 8-7 GAC) its fourth straight win and keeps SNU in fifth in the Great American Conference. It was also the second series sweep for the Storm this season.
 
For the second straight game, SNU had at least five players in double figures as LB Willis led the way with 19 points. Willis also had seven rebounds and three assists to go with six steals. Francisco Hukill added 15 points and eight rebounds as he went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Garrett Butler scored 13 points off of the bench as he went 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range.  CJ Rodriguez scored 12 points and had five rebounds and six assists while Jared Starkey had 11 points.
 
The Storm shot 41.3 percent from the field going 26-for-63 and hit eight 3-pointers. The Storm bench outscored the Muleriders' bench 17-5 and SNU outrebounded Southern Arkansas 42-35.
 
Southern Nazarene led by as much as 20 in the first half at 33-13 with 6:30 to play in the half, but the Muleriders cut it to 40-27 at halftime. SNU pushed it to 52-35 with 12:09 to play, but Southern Arkansas went on a 25-11 run to cut it to 63-60 with 4:41 to play. That was as close as the Muleriders came though. SNU answered with a 10-3 run capped by a Willis slam to give the Storm a 73-63 lead with two minutes left and held on from there.