BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene pulled out another win inside the Sawyer Center Tuesday evening, defeating the University of North Texas at Dallas Trailblazers by a final score of 71-62. 

Following their victory over fellow Central Region squad Nebraska Kearney last week, the Storm (2-0, 0-0 GAC) stayed the course and chalked up another win on their home court, pressuring the Trailblazers (1-1, 0-0 SAC) with a stifling defense that pushed them out on top. Southern Nazarene forced 16 UNTD turnovers and recorded a total of 11 steals, which set them up for 14 second chance points and 22 points off of those turnovers. 

The Trailblazers surprised the Storm with an early 8-4 lead, but SNU quickly chipped away at the deficit helped out by a big Cam Slaymaker three and a Jonas Visser dunk, bringing their trail to 10-9. 
 

UNTD's Vernon Johnson got back-to-back scores for the Trailblazers to extend their lead but Shawn Barthelemy came off the bench and lit up the Storm's offense, giving the Storm a quick seven points. 

UNTD did not back down, continuing to attack the Storm defense to work back up to a six point lead, but SNU had other plans in the possessions after. With UNTD ahead 29-23, Southern Nazarene strung together a huge 12-0 run with six minutes left in the half, making that the last lead held by the Trailblazers in the game. The offensive explosion by SNU put them ahead 34-29 with a little over three minutes left on the clock. 

Cam Slaymaker contributed the last five points to SNU's scoring before the first period was up and Southern Nazarene controlled the 39-31 lead at halftime.

SNU's tempo stayed at the start of the second half, largely driven by Ben Baker McCann who poured in six points of his own in the first four minutes of the half, helping SNU to a 12-point lead. Cam Slaymaker added to the offensive surge to keep SNU up by 12, but UNTD continued to fight, chipping away at the gap before both teams' offenses grew cold over the course of two minutes. 

Barthelemy broke the ice with a free throw and the scoring resumed, most coming from the Trailblazers who put up seven unanswered points, closing the gap back down to a slim three points. The work of Baker Mcann, Slaymaker, and Jonas Visser in the final few minutes kept SNU far enough away from the Trailblazers and SNU let the clock melt in their final possession, claiming the 71-62 win. 

Slaymaker led in scoring again for SNU, pouring in 20 points with a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. 
 

Baker Mcann, Visser, and Barthelemy all contributed 12 points, with Baker McCann earning his first double-double with SNU, chipping in 11 boards. 

Up Next

Southern Nazarene will see their first road game this season on Saturday, November 18th as they go head-to-head with Lubbock Christian at 2 p.m.