BETHANY, Okla. — No. 5 Southern Nazarene turned a close first half into a dominant second-half performance Saturday afternoon, rolling past Southwestern Oklahoma State 83–55 inside the Sawyer Center to remain unbeaten on the season and in Great American Conference play.
The Crimson Storm (10–0, 4–0 GAC) and Bulldogs (3-7, 0-4 GAC) traded momentum early, with neither side able to create much separation in the opening 20 minutes. SNU carried a slim 35–32 advantage into the break after steady interior play and timely buckets kept the Storm in front.
Everything changed coming out of halftime. Southern Nazarene erupted for 48 second-half points while holding SWOSU to just 23, turning a three-point game into a runaway win. The Storm shot over 61 percent from the floor in the second half and controlled the tempo on both ends, gradually wearing down the Bulldogs.
Malik Edwards led a balanced scoring effort with 16 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, knocking down a pair of three-pointers and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Bam Johnson added 14 points and six rebounds, while Baron Bracey chipped in 13 points and James Burries supplied 12 while going a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Colby Henderson anchored the paint with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to record a double-double, helping SNU finish with a 38–22 edge in points in the paint. Tracy Godfrey Jr. also reached double figures with 10 points, giving the Storm five players in double-digit scoring.
Defensively, Southern Nazarene was sharp all afternoon, forcing 13 turnovers and converting them into 19 points. The Storm limited SWOSU to just 22.2 percent shooting from three-point range and held the Bulldogs scoreless from beyond the arc in the second half.
SNU also showcased its depth, outscoring Southwestern Oklahoma State 19–15 in bench points and adding 16 fast-break points to keep pressure on throughout the final 20 minutes.
Next Up
The Crimson Storm will hit the road one last time in 2025 as they head to Alva to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 pm.
