Storm Stumble Late Against SAU

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Despite four players in double figures led by Kevin Buckingham's 22-point effort, Southeastern found itself on the short end of a 69-65 loss on Thursday night in Magnolia, Ark.
 
The loss dips the Savage Storm to 19-7 overall on the season and 13-6 in Great American Conference play heading into the road finale on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Arkansas-Monticello in Monticello, Ark.
 
Buckingham's 22 points led SE as he finished 8-of-15 from the field with three threes.
 
Kellen Manek and Adam Dworsky each turned in 13 points, with Dworsky handing out five assists and Manek dishing out four.
 
Kayo Goncalves finished with a double-double after putting up 10 points and hauling in a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Manek posted all of his 13 points in the first half, posting a 5-of-10 shooting effort in the frst 20 minutes with a pair of threes while Buckingham came on strong late to finish with 10 in the half on 4-of-7 shooting.
 
SE scored the first 10 points of the game and by a Manek three with 14:38 to play in the half the lead reached 13-2.
 
The Muleriders would close the gap to five points, but a Todd Dawkins three would trigger an 11-0 run capped by a Dworsky layup with 8:02 remaining to take a 24-8 lead.
 
The lead would stretch to 18 points on a Buckingham layup at the 4:15 mark, but SAU would chip away at the Storm lead and SE would take a 35-22 lead to the locker room at halftime.
 
SE would maintain its lead early, going up by 14 points less than two minutes into the second half, but a 15-2 SAU run would cut the Storm lead down to 39-38 with 13:14 to play.
 
Southeastern would hold off that charge and push ahead, taking a 50-42 lead on a Buckingham three with 10:48 to play.
 
Another 11-2 Mulerider runs would again cut the Storm lead to one point with 6:28 to go.
 
A Goncalves three would fend off the run, but one final 6-0 spurt would give SAU its first lead of the contest at 61-59 with 3:02 remaining.
 
Dworsky would answer with an immediate three to regain the lead and a follow up bucket on the next possession would push that edge to 64-61 with 2:07 to play.
 
However, the Muleriders would score eight of the final nine points to steal a 69-65 final score.