Storm Take GAC Opener over Harding

DURANT, Okla. – Markell Henderson turned in 23 first-half points to help lift Southeastern to a 70-60 victory over Harding in the Great American Conference opener on Thursday night in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 1-2 on the year and 1-0 in GAC play heading into a 3 p.m. matchup with Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon, also in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
Markell Henderson would score 13 of Southeastern's first 16 points in the game and finish the first half with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting with three threes, but due to foul trouble in the second half would finish with those same 23 points for the game as the leading scorer in the contest.
 
DJ Henderson joined him in double-figures with 11 points, while Adam Dwosky came off the bench to chip in 10.  Bobby Johnson was just shy of double-figures with nine.
 
Johnson would dish out a game-high six assists to lead the way, while DJ Henderson added three.
 
Markell Henderson and Kevin Buckingham led all rebounders with nine each, while the Storm held a 45-to-37 edge on the glass as a team.
 
The Storm scored the first four points and led early, but HU would tie the game twice and take the lead at the 15:51 mark at 9-7.
 
That lead would reach as many as four points before a Markell Henderson three was followed by a layup to put SE in front 14-13 as part of a 9-0 run that put the Storm back in front for good.
 
Markell Henderson would eventually push that lead to double-digits on a three at the 3:11 mark to take a 36-26 lead before settling on a 41-34 lead at the break.
 
HU scored first in the second half, but a 7-0 run would give the Storm a 48-37 lead on a Johnson layup with 14:32 to play.
 
The Bisons would cut the gap to a narrow as five points at 59-54 with 5:18 to play, however the Storm would score 11 of the final 17 points, mostly at the free throw line, to preserve the 70-60 victory.