Men's Hoops Fall to NSU at MIAA/GAC Challenge

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Late turnovers prove costly as Southeastern falls to Northeastern State 94-84 on Saturday night in the Stuteville Auto Group MIAA/GAC Challenge in Tahlequah, Okla.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 0-2 to open the season heading into their Nov. 17 home opener at 7:30 p.m. against Arlington Baptist in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
Taylor Smaller paced a group of five SE players who reached fdouble-figures, turning in 25 points on the night.
 
Sami Bzai added 18 points, while Danny Powell chipped in 14, followed by Nathan Jackson with 12 and Darius Harris with 11.
 
Southeastern shot 53.1 percent from the field on the night, including a 44.4 percent clip from long range that included eight threes.
 
Harris completed the game's only double-double with 11 points and 11 rebound to lead all players on the boards, and help SE to a 39-to-32 edge on the glass.
 
Harris also added four blocks, while Antonio Worthy added three.
 
NSU scored the first four points of the game, but the Storm answered with a Powell three and a Harris dunk.
 
The teams would trade the lead back-and-forth before a Smaller jumper at the 13:53 mark put SE in front 16-15.
 
The RiverHawks would tie the game at 20-20, and again at 22-22, but SE would score the next six points, with Harris collecting four of them on a three and a free throw to open up a 28-22 advantage with 8:28 to play in the half.
 
The Storm would extend its lead to as many as eight points, but would ultimately settle on a 42-39 lead at halftime.
 
Southeastern maintained its lead well into the second half, falling behind for the first time on an NSU three with 14:50 to play at 54-53.
 
At that point the teams were locked in a dog fight with the largest lead wither team could muster being four points until a RiverHawk run opened up a six-point lead with 8:01 to play.
 
SE would tie the game at 77-77 on a Powell three point play with 5:28 to play, but NSU would regain the lead for good on its next possession, extending its lead to six points with 3:21 to play.
 
The Storm would get as close as three points with just over a minute to play at 87-84, but NSU would be aided by a pair of Southeastern turnovers in the final 44 seconds and pull away for the 94-84 win.