BETHANY, Okla.—In arguably the game of the year in the Great American Conference, Southern Nazarene's 10 game winning streak came to a heartbreaking end as Southeastern Oklahoma State took a 94-93 overtime win over the Crimson Storm on Saturday afternoon.
The teams matched each other blow for blow all afternoon and forty minutes would prove to not be enough time to separate the two teams. The lead changed 19 times and the scoreboard saw 14 ties before the game was ultimately decided. Southern Nazarene (14-6, 9-5 GAC) was extremely efficient on the offensive side all game, shooting at a 34-for-58 (58.6%) clip. Unfortunately for the Crimson Storm, Southeastern (15-4, 10-3 GAC) was even more efficient on the offensive end, shooting 33-of-53 (62.3%) for the game.
SNU was forced to just seven men after an early injury to star defender Jalen Lynn. That injury would prove costly as Southeastern's Adam Dworsky could not be contained. He went for 32 points in the game and hit multiple clutch shots in the second half and overtime.
The high-flying offenses got going in a hurry. The teams combined for 86 first half points as Southeastern took a 44-42 lead into the break. The Savage Storm's lead grew as high as eight points in the first half, but SNU quickly responded with a 15-0 run that gave them a seven point advantage.
Southern Nazarene held the lead throughout the majority of the second half, but that lead was never greater than five points. With one minute remaining, Southeastern reclaimed a one point lead at 77-76, but SNU caught a break after a technical foul put the Crimson Storm on the line. They would hit 1-of-2 from the stripe to tie the game, but with the ball back, Mo Wilson II came up with a clutch bucket for the lead. A foul on the other end of the floor put Dworsky at the line, where he calmly hit both free throws to tie the game. Adokiye Iyaye had a look from deep for the win at the other end of the floor but it came up just short, sending the game to overtime.
The Savage Storm were then able to regroup and control much of overtime. Despite their lead never growing greater than four points, they kept the Crimson Storm at arm's length over the final five minutes. With a three point advantage under 15 seconds left, Southeastern smartly fouled Eain Mowat, preventing a potential game-tying three point shot. Mowat would hit both and SNU quickly fouled on the inbounds. Southeastern continued to knock down their free throws, though, keeping a three point advantage and once again fouling to prevent a game-tying three. Southeastern hit their final five free throws of overtime to secure the win. Xavier Bryant would knock down a long-three at the buzzer to bring the final score to 94-93.
Five different Crimson Storm players reached double-figures. Adokiye Iyaye led the way with 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half and overtime. Nick Davis poured in 16 points on a very efficient 8-of-11 shooting. Tyler McGhie and Xavier Bryant each added 15 points while, while Manny Dixon contributed 11 points off of the bench.
Mo Wilson II and Eain Mowat each also added 8 points off the bench.
The loss brings a halt to SNU's ten game winning streak, which was their longest since an 18 game streak in the 2017-18 season. The Storm fall to fourth in the Great American Conference, but there is plenty of time to bounce back as they return to action on Monday to take on Harding in a remake of Jan. 8th's postponement. The Storm have won nine straight over the Bisons. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Sawyer Center.
