BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene used a strong second half and balanced scoring effort to secure a 66–51 win over Southern Arkansas Saturday evening inside the Sawyer Center. 

The contest was competitive early, with both teams trading baskets throughout the opening period. SNU (5-4, 9-4 GAC) built a narrow lead late in the half and took a 29-26 advantage into the break after knocking down seven first-half three-pointers. The Storm defense also set the tone, forcing tough shots and limiting Southern Arkansas (7-12, 4-9 GAC) to just 10 made field goals in the opening 20 minutes.

Southern Nazarene created separation after halftime, outscoring the Muleriders 37-25 in the second half. The Storm continued to find success from beyond the arc and at the free throw line, shooting over 83 percent at the stripe after the break. Key defensive stops and strong rebounding stretches helped SNU push the lead to double digits midway through the half and maintain control down the stretch.

Joe Mpoyo led the way offensively with 16 points, drilling four three-pointers while adding four rebounds and a pair of steals. Baron Bracey filled the stat sheet with 10 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and four assists. Malik Edwards also scored 10 points and dished out four assists, helping orchestrate the Storm offense. Tracy Godfrey Jr. anchored the interior with 11 rebounds, four blocks, and seven points, providing a major defensive presence in the paint.

Southern Nazarene shot 42.3 percent from the floor and an efficient 44.4 percent from three-point range, finishing with 12 made triples. The Storm also won the rebounding battle 33-30 and turned 14 Southern Arkansas turnovers into key scoring opportunities. The bench contributed 21 points, giving SNU a boost in key stretches of the game.

Next Up

The Storm will hit the road as they head to Arkansas Tech to take on the Wonder Boys on Thursday, February 5 at 7:30 pm.