Turnovers turned out to be the difference in a Southern Nazarene University 80-73 victory over Arkansas Tech University in Great American Conference men’s basketball at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Okla., on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Storm (4-4 overall, 3-1 GAC) forced the Wonder Boys into 19 turnovers and finished with a 25-10 edge in points off turnovers as the home team won for the sixth consecutive meeting between the two programs.
“Offensively, we were in a funk,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Chad Kline. “We battled our tails off. Our defensive effort was so much better, but we lost it offensively. It felt like a high-level game today. I have nothing but faith that we’ll bounce back.”
The Wonder Boys (3-2, 2-2) trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half before mounting a comeback. Benny Lufile’s put-back basket with 3:25 left pulled Tech within 72-71, but Southern Nazarene’s Deshon Portley scored the next five points — including a 3-pointer with 47.1 seconds left — to help the Crimson Storm hold on for the win.
Southern Nazarene sealed the deal by making 3-of-4 free throws over the final 30.5 seconds.
Jhonathan Dunn had 20 points and Portley finished with 18 points for SNU. LB Willis added 15 points.
Montrell Williams paced Tech with 27 points, matching his season high. Grant Prusator poured in a season-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Lufile finished with 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive glass.
The Wonder Boys will be idle until they host William Woods University University for a non-conference game at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
