SE Bounces Back with Win over Bisons

SEARCY, Ark. – Kevin Buckingham led a foursome of double-digit scorers as Southeastern got back in the win column with an 80-62 victory over Harding on Saturday afternoon in Searcy, Ark.
 
SE improves to 10-3 overall on the season and 4-2 in Great American Conference play.
 
The Storm will be back in action when it returns to Bloomer Sullivan Arena on Jan. 9 to host Arkansas-Monticello at 7:30 p.m.
 
"We worked Bobby in that position yesterday," said head coach Kelly Green, "So we were prepared to put him in there. I thought he was outstanding. Romeo Harvey is very quick. Bobby is so athletic and what he did tonight is what he hasn't done in a while. He's getting better at it. Just staying down in the stance."
 
"We've been in this position all year long," continued Green about losing halftime leads. "One game, Southern Nazarene, we're behind. The other games with the exception of three or four we've had double-digit leads. Now the game of basketball is a game of runs and they've got good college basketball players at the other end.  They're going to make shots and make adjustments."
 
Buckingham finished the contest with 20 points, reaching the marl for the seventh time this season, while shooting 9-of-14 from the field.
 
Bobby Johnson stepped into the starting lineup for A'Torey Everett who suffered an injury on Thursday
 
Kayo Goncalves and Kellen Manek each finished with 15, with Goncalves hitting five threes while Manek posted an 8-of-8 effort at the free throw line.
 
Adam Dworsky was held to single-digit points for just the second time this season but triggered the Storm offense to the tune of 11 assists, reaching the double-digit assist mark for the seventh time this season. SE finished with 20 assists as a team.
 
Buckingham led all rebounders with seven boards, while Dworsky, Goncalves, and Manek each pulled down six as Southeastern held a 39-to-33 edge on the glass.
 
Buckingham and Goncalves combined for 19 first-half points, with Buckingham hitting 5-of-7 and posting 10 points while Goncalves hit a trio of threes.
 
HU got on the board first, but the Storm quickly answered with a 14-2 run capped by a Goncalves three to take a 14-4 lead by the 13:31 mark of the first half.
 
The Bisons would close the gap to seven points, but another SE run, this one 13-2 would put SE in front 31-13 with 3:21 to play in the half.
 
Harding would hit a pair of threes over the final three minutes and trim the Southeastern lead to 35-21 at halftime.
 
The Bisons would cut into the SE lead early in the second half, closing the gap to 38-30 with a 9-3 run.
 
The Storm answered with the next 12 points capped by Johnson fastbreak layup to make the lead 50-30 with 14:36 to play.
 
The Southeastern lead would eventually reach 23 points with 9:38 to play on a Buckingham bucket.
 
The Bisons would chip away in the final minutes, cutting the score to 71-57 with 4:39 to play before the Storm would stop the rally and hold on for an 80-62 victory.