BETHANY, Okla. — After an exciting two-game winning streak, Southern Nazarene could not keep it going in their road matchup with Southern Arkansas, falling to the Muleriders 78-72. 

Just a few more three pointers from the Muleriders (6-9,4-5 GAC) in the first half was the only key difference in their two-point lead at halftime. The Storm (6-8,3-6 GAC) came out shooting hot in the first 20 minutes, posting a 48% shooting clip while going a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. It wasn't until last few minutes the second half where Southern Arkansas slowly started to pull away, starting with a quick 6-0 run to put them ahead by eight and ending with three final second free throws to take the win by a slim six points. 

22 lead changes were featured within the contest and numerous coming from the opening half. Southern Arkansas opened the game in three-point fashion, but SNU worked swiftly to contain the fire, delivering a 6-0 layup spree that shot them ahead 6-3. The back and forth affair continued for the remainder of the half with the largest lead at just three points. 

With SNU trailing by just a single point at the 11:53 mark, both squads suffered a two-minute scoring drought until SNU broke the silence and regained the lead with a Jonas Visser layup. In the remaining nine minutes, the teams traded leads and tied on several occasions. Cam Slaymaker gave his team a three-point lead with 2:40 left on the clock, but that was quickly stolen back by the Muleriders who finished off the half with 5-0 run to head into halftime ahead 31-29.

Slaymaker fired another three ball right through the net to open the second 20 minutes, putting SNU ahead 32-31. The Muleriders answered with a 5-0 run over the course of a minute before Benno Zecic could end their fire with a jumper in the lane. Behind 38-34, the Storm broke out a 5-0 run of their own with the help of Zecic and Ben Baker-McCann to regain the lead at 39-38. For the next two minutes, it became a battle of the long ball as Southern Arkansas' Cedric Garrett and SNU's Slaymaker traded two three-pointers a piece, keeping SNU behind by just two points with 14:32 left in the contest. 

The three-point opportunities continued to come easy for the Storm as Jaxon Edelmayer and Slaymaker each dropped in another, pushing Southern Nazarene ahead 50-48. Garrett sunk in another for the Muleriders with 12 minutes to go to put them ahead by one, and the seesaw theme was back on for the next seven minutes. Every bucket from Southern Arkansas was quickly answered with points from the Storm until a 6-0 Muleriders' run shot them up by four with just under five minutes left to play. 

Zecic let one fly from behind the arc and nailed it to close the gap down to two, but Southern Arkansas' offense was difficult to contain as they dished out another 6-0 run, pushing the Storm back eight points with less than two minutes on the clock. In the final 1:30, Southern Nazarene was able to sneak in five points, but that was not enough to come back and the home team finished SNU off with a few free throws to call the final 78-72 victory. 

Slaymaker finished with a team high 22 points and six boards. Baker-McCann followed with a near double-double at 15 points and nine rebounds. Zecic added 13 points. 

Up Next

Southern Nazarene will look to get back on track as they head to Monticello, Arkansas to take on the Weevils of Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, January 20th for a 3 p.m. tip-time.