ALVA, Okla. — Over the last couple of weeks, No. 10 Southern Nazarene knew that if its hot streak were to continue, it would have to go through Northwestern Oklahoma State n one of the toughest places to play. The Crimson Storm know all too well the difficulty of winning in Perceful Fieldhouse and Saturday made it clear why as Northwestern buried a game-winner at the buzzer to down SNU 53-52.
Â
The Crimson Storm's (21-2, 18-1) streak of 17 straight wins came to a close in a thriller as neither team had a double-digit lead the entire night. SNU was held to its lowest shooting percentage all year as it went just 20-for-53 from the field. The Storm were also 8-for-20 from 3-point range. SNU was also held to its least amount of free throws all year as it was 4-for-6 from the line. The Rangers (18-6, 14-5 GAC) shot nearly three times as many free throws as they went 10-for-17 from the stripe.
Â
Jhonathan Dunn and
Micah Speight were the only two players for the Storm in double figures. Dunn finished with 11 points and four rebounds while Speight had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Coleman Edwards also added nine points off of the bench.
Â
The Storm led 21-15 with 6:59 left in the first half, but the Rangers used a 12-2 run to lead 27-23 with 1:35 left in the first. Edwards cut it to 27-26 with a three right before the half.
Â
SNU opened the second half on a 10-0 run to lead 36-27 with 13:33 left to take its biggest lead of the game. The Storm led 43-35 with 9:39 to play when the Rangers scored seven straight to cut it to 43-42 with 6:45 left. Southern Nazarene pushed it back to a 50-45 lead with 2:06 remaining, but Northwestern answered with five straight to tie it at 50 with 46 seconds left.
Â
Quaylon Newton looked to have given the Storm the game-winner on a putback off an offensive rebound, but the Rangers' Brandon Green buried the game-winner at the buzzer to pull off the upset.
Â
