Southeastern Cruises Past Crusaders

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern shot 59.5 percent from the floor and put five players in double-figures while cruising to a 113-45 win over Dallas Christian on Monday night in the men's basketball home opener at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 2-3 heading into a trip to Kingsville, Texas, for the Texas A&M-Kingsville Classic where they will face Texas-Permian Basin at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 and then host TAMUK at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 26.
 
SE hit 44-of-74 on its shots overall and connected on 11 threes, including posting a 7-of-12 mark in the second half.
 
Nathan Jackson finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting in 19 minutes of play, while Kevin Buckingham turned in 19 points on 7-of-10 from the floor in his first start.
 
Tyler Lonzie added 17 points in only 14 minutes on the court, hitting 8-of-9 shots, while Anton Cook was right behind with 15 points on the strength of three threes.
 
Marti Fonolla added 10 points off the bench to round out the double-digit scoring, while Jett Jobe finished with nine and James Donelan added eight.
 
Jobe dished out a game-best eight assists to lead the Storm as they piled up 34 assists on the night as a team.  Jackson and Kyle Roberts chipped in five dimes, while Fonolla and Gianpalo Riccio each added four.
 
SE piled up a 59-to-30 edge on the glass, including hauling in 16 offensive boards, turning them into 16-2 advantage in second chance points.
 
It was in the paint where the Storm dominated, outscoring the Crusaders 62-8, while also holding a 35-8 edge in points off turnovers after forcing 20 turnovers, 10 of them on steals, with Buckingham leading that charge with four.
 
Southeastern also converted in transition where they connected on 12 fastbreak points to DCC's none.


SE got out of the gate a little slow despite a Cook three just five seconds in, with the Crusaders taking a brief lead a minute in at 4-3.
 
The Storm would regain the lead on its next possession and led 9-6 at the 16:31 mark when they would reel off a 22-0 run over six and a half minutes that was bookended by Jackson buckets, opening up a 31-6 edge.
 
Southeastern would ultimately outscore DCC 47-12 from the 16 minute mark in, leading by as many as 39 points before taking a 56-18 lead into the half.
 
The Storm quickly stretched its lead beyond 40 points and when Fonolla hit a three at the 15:20 mark the lead would reach 52 points at 74-22.
 
The lead would grow to as many as 69 in the second half before settling on the 113-45 final score.