BETHANY - The 15th-ranked Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm shot a season-high 61% from the field as they cruised to a 96-75 win over Harding to clinch their second consecutive Great American Conference Regular Season Championship on Thursday evening at The Sawyer Center.
On a emotional night which included an amazing win from the women and the honoring and naming of the basketball court after longtime SNU Coach and Athletic Director
Bobby Martin, the men capped the night in grand fashion, clinching a share of the title after Southern Arkansas suffered a lopsided loss at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
SNU was 36 of 59 (61%) and 10 of 21 (48%) from deep while shooting 74% at the free throw line. Harding shot it well on the other end, going 31 of 58 (53%) from the field and 8 of 21 (38%) from deep. The Bisons only got to the line eight times. The big different maker was SNU forcing 19 turnovers while only giving it away 13 times. SNU held a 29-26 advantage in rebounds and had 18 assists on the night.
After a semi-slow start, falling behind 7-4, SNU went on a 9-0 run behind 3-point plays from
Quaylon Newton and
Jhonathan Dunn and a massive slam from
Noah Starkey. SNU would push that run out to 18-2 and move ahead 22-11 as
Coleman Edwards got warm from behind the arc while Dunn and RJ Palmer knocked down some shots.
SNU's lead would get out to 25-13 after a Dunn 3-pointer, but the Bisons went on a 10-1 to surge back and make it a 26-23 game at the midway point of the first half.
With under seven minutes to play and leading 31-27, the Crimson Storm would close the first half on another 18-2 run as SNU shot an unbelievable 76% from the field to take a 49-29 lead at hte break. Dunn poured in 16 points including a jumper with less than three seconds left on the clock to get the lead at 20 points. Edwards and Palmer both played vital minutes off the bench in the half.
Dunn would open the second half with a tre and it would be more of the same for SNU as they maintained their lead over 20 points. A steal by Edwards would lead to a massive flush from Palmer and SNU was rolling as they lead 66-41 with 12 minutes to play.
The lead would cap out at 34 points in the second half before the Bisons got a lift form their bench, who scored 52 points on the night, to close the gap slightly. Regardless, the result was never in question as SNU closed the game out with its red-hot offense leading the way to a 96-75 win.
Dunn was outstanding, going for 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting along with two steals. Edwards added 18 points off the bench including five 3-pointers, four assists, and three steals while Palmer added 15 with five boards, two steals, and a block.
Micah Speight scored 11 points to go with five boards and five assists while Starkey and Newton each had eight points.
Jordan West led Harding with 20 points off the bench while Collier Blackburn had 15 points including five 3-pointers of his own.
SNU now sit 23-4 on the season and 16-3 in the GAC. They will look to clinch the GAC title outright on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day as they welcome in Arkansas Tech. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
