Southern Nazarene University’s LB Willis scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Crimson Storm to a 67-63 Great American Conference men’s basketball victory over Arkansas Tech University at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Okla., on Saturday afternoon.
Willis also made four assists and grabbed three steals as the Crimson Storm (10-11 overall, 9-6 GAC) won for the third time in its last four games.
Southern Nazarene earned the victory by generating extra possessions. The Crimson Storm was plus-7 in turnover margin and plus-3 in rebound margin on Saturday.
SNU led by as many as eight points in the second half before the Wonder Boys rallied. A Tyler Corley layup with 12.1 seconds left pulled Arkansas Tech within 66-63, but Deshon Portley made a free throw for the Crimson Storm with 10.7 seconds left to make it a two-possession game and set what proved to be the final score.
Andrew Guillory scored 16 points and collected eight rebounds for the Wonder Boys (11-10, 6-9). Tech’s Nick Wayman had 12 points, while Corley and Jerry Owens contributed 10 points apiece.
The Wonder Boys will entertain Ouachita Baptist University for a 7:30 p.m. GAC contest at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday, Feb. 11. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
