MBB-D2: Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (16-3) at Henderson State Reddies (8-11)

After weather in the surrounding area postponed this game for 24 hours, Henderson State will face off against the No. 20 Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm for the second time this season. Tip-off from inside the Duke Wells Center is set for Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
 
REDDIES REPORT
The last time out on the floor, Henderson kept at Southeastern Oklahoma State’s hip before the lethal three-point shooting of the Savage Storm took over, earning them the victory in Durant, Oklahoma, 99-73. Southeastern shot 18-of-37 (48.6%) from behind the arc and 35-of-66 (53.0%) from the field while getting a career-high 34 points from SE big man Kyle Leslie, 24 of which came from three-point territory (8-15).
 
Saturday was the Reddies’ first time to score over 70 points since their win at Oklahoma Baptist back on Jan. 5. Henderson had four guys score in double figures for the eighth time this season. Franck Kamgain led the scoring with 17 points, followed by Tomislav Miholjcic (16), Zyon Patterson (10) and Malik Riddle (10), who has now scored in double figures in six straight contests.
 
Henderson has struggled to generate much offense as of late, averaging 5.7 assists per outing since their last home victory against Arkansas-Monticello. In its wins this season, HSU has recorded 13 assists per game. In its losses, it has mustered just 8.5 per game. Alvin Miles continues to fill the facilitator role, averaging 3.6 assists a contest, which is fifth in the GAC.
 
The Reddies have dropped four straight against the conference’s current top team and have not beaten Southern Nazarene in Arkadelphia since the 2019-20 season – the year HSU won the GAC Tournament. In head coach Jimmy Elgas‘ eight years at the helm of the program, Henderson has defeated the Crimson Storm inside the Duke Wells Center twice.
 
In the season’s first matchup against SNU, Kamgain and Miholjcic were the only two Reddies to score in double figures as Southern Nazarene came away with the victory, 70-48. The Crimson Storm shot better than 50.0 percent from both the field and from behind the arc, where they went 10-of-19 (52.6%).   
 
SCOUTING NO. 20 SOUTHERN NAZARENE
After starting out the season receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, Southern Nazarene has won 16 of 19 games this season to climb to No. 20 in the latest installment of the NABC rankings. The Crimson Storm are currently riding a six-game winning streak, defeating teams by an average of 22.2 points during that span.
 
At 12-1 in league play, SNU’s one loss came on the road in Russellville earlier this year. Southern Nazarene is 7-3 away from the Sawyer Center as opposed to 9-0 when playing at home. Opposing offenses are faring a little bit better against the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense (56.8 ppg) when playing away from the Crimson Storm’s home base, scoring 59 points per game as opposed to 53 points.
 
In addition to defense, SNU also boasts the top three-point shooting percentage in the GAC and the 10th best mark in Division II at 40.4 percent. Sophomore guard Eain Mowat leads the conference at 49.1 percent (27-55) from long range. Mowat and leading-scorer Tyler McGhie combined for 30 points while hitting 7-of-12 treys against HSU in the season’s first meeting.