The Crimson Storm (22-6) established a record for fewest combined points allowed through two GAC Championships games, 92. They gave up 47 in a 13-point win against Arkansas Tech on Thursday. The Wonder Boys held the prior mark, 98, set back in 2013. Southern Nazarene converted 14 turnovers into 16 points.
Southern Nazarene turned an early five-point deficit into an eight point advantage, 19-11, after the Crimson Storm scored 13-straight points over a span of 5:36. Stevie Strong made a pair of 3-pointers as part of the run.
Up by nine, 29-20, at halftime, the Crimson Storm extended their lead to 18 over the span of the first nine minutes of the second half. Their advantage never dropped below 14 the rest of the way. Strong scored a game-high 21 points. He went 4-for-7 from the 3-point arc. Baron Bracey added 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
One night after making 10 3-pointers, Henderson State (17-13) went just 4-of-17 from the arc against the Crimson Storm. GAC Freshman of the Year Rondae Hill scored 13 points, as did Nehikhare Igiehon.
The win gives the Crimson Storm consecutive appearances in the GAC title game. They match the feat set by the 2018 and 2019 Crimson Storm teams, Arkansas Tech, in 2012 and 2013 and again 2023 and 2024; and Arkansas-Monticello, in 2017 and 2018 as the only repeat finalists in GAC men’s basketball history.
Southern Nazarene will face Ouachita Baptist or Harding at 3:30 p.m. in the GAC final. The Crimson Storm won their home
games against both the Tigers and Bisons but lost in both Arkadelphia and Searcy.
Get Local News!
