Southern Nazarene University’s pedigree as the two-time defending Great American Conference men’s basketball champion showed during crunch time at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Storm topped Arkansas Tech University 79-68 to maintain sole possession of first place in the GAC standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
Southern Nazarene (21-7 overall, 15-5 GAC) used a 10-0 run over a span of 3:18 to claim a 70-55 advantage with two minutes to go. SNU made 9-of-10 free throws over the final 1:29 to seal its 12th win in its last 14 games.
The Crimson Storm was 5-of-6 from the field down the stretch, while the Wonder Boys were 0-for-7 from the field during that same period of time.
With the loss, Arkansas Tech (12-14, 8-12) fell into a share of ninth place in the GAC standings. Only the top eight teams when the regular season ends on Saturday, Feb. 29, will advance to the GAC Tournament.
“We double teamed (Jhonathan Dunn and Micah Speight) the whole game and were going to make someone else beat us,” said Chad Kline, ATU head coach. “At about the eight or nine minute mark, they went on a run and the wind went out of our sails. We gave a gutsy performance. We just made too many turnovers in key situations.”
Dunn, the GAC’s all-time leading scorer with 2,279 career points, had 16 points for the Crimson Storm on Saturday. Nick Davis scored a career-high 15 points, Manny Dixon notched 14 points and Speight contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for SNU.
Kevin McNeal paced Arkansas Tech with 18 points. He was 5-of-5 from 3-point range. R.J. Glasper added 17 points, while Devante Foster had 15 points and eight rebounds.
McNeal, Foster and Ramses Sandifer — ATU’s three senior men’s basketball players — made their final home appearance on Saturday.
The Wonder Boys will close out the 2019-20 regular season with a two-game road trip to the Sooner State.
Arkansas Tech will face Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva, Okla., and Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center in Weatherford, Okla.
Both games will be broadcast by KCJC 102.3 FM. Additional live coverage will be provided by www.arkansastechsports.com.
