BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Arkansas fired 63 percent from the field in the second half and were 6-for-8 from 3-point range as Southern Nazarene dropped its first contest inside the Sawyer Center of the season, 75-68.
 
It was the first loss by the Crimson Storm (4-8, 3-3 GAC) to the Muleriders (6-6, 3-3 GAC) since SNU joined the Great American Conference in the 2012-13 season.
 
Southern Nazarene held SAU just 38.7 percent shoot from the floor in the first half as it was just 12-for-31 and 3-for-11 from beyond the arc. The Muleriders though got big buckets down the stretch and took advantage of 27 points off of the bench.
 
CJ Rodriguez finished with 25 points as he went 7-for-12 from the field, 4-for-9 from 3-point range and 7-for-8 at the free-throw line. The senior also added six rebounds, five assists and three steals. LB Willis added 14 points.
 
The Storm shot 37.7 percent from the field, but struggled beyond the arc. The Storm went just 9-for-33 from 3-point range and were 13-for-23 at the line.
 
Neither team led by more than eight the entire contest as SNU had its largest lead early at 15-7. The Muleriders though answered with an 18-5 run to take a 25-20 lead with 4:54 left in the first. The Storm though closed with an 11-5 run to take a 31-30 lead at the half.
 
The Storm took an early lead in the second half at 36-30, but SAU kept chipping away again. Southern Arkansas used a 10-2 run to lead 45-42 and eventually pushed its lead to 55-47 with 8:17 to play. SNU scored eight straight points that included back-to-back treys by Rodriguez and Butler to tie it with 7:14 to play. The Muleriders pushed it to out to 60-56 with 4:25 remaining, but a Willis 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run to put the Storm up 63-60.
 
Southern Arkansas though closed the game on a 15-5 run to pick up its first win ever in Bethany.