A massive second half performance rallied the Southeastern Savage Storm to just its second win in school history at Henderson State while forging the lone victory of an Arkadelphia, Arkansas road trip last week that opened Great American Conference play.
Coach Kelly Green’s squad trailed 4132 at intermission but caught fire following the break as they outscored the hosts by 13 points on the way to an impressive 74-70 triumph in getting off to a great start in league play. They dropped a 6952 verdict at Ouachita Baptist.
Southeastern’s women fell 91-58 to Henderson and lost an 82-74 decision to Ouachita as they managed just four three pointers in 29 attempts.
Men
Stellar shooting was the story of the comeback as the Savage Storm scorched the nets for nearly 62 percent from the field, including sinking five three pointers. Freshman point guard Jamal Drewery was outstanding while posting a double- double with 10 points and 11 assists to lead the charge.
Henderson State held a 6052 edge with seven minutes gone after the break when Deondre Dunn and Ethan Wilkerson combined for two baskets apiece in an 8-0 burst. Chandler Dickinson added a free throw with 9:14 remaining that capped a 9-0 flurry to put Southeastern ahead for the first time.
Things went back and forth over the next five minutes until Southeastern eventually pulled even on a Dickinson layup with 3:24 left to play as they put on the defensive clamps and held the Reddies scoreless over the final five minutes. Dunn’s jumper at the 2:30 mark gave the Savage Storm the lead for good as he finished with a team-best 19 points.
Three other Southeastern players reached double figures as Santiago Camacho Gomez tossed in 16 points, Dickinson had 14 and Drewery had 10 points.
Outside of sharpshooter Ethan Scott’s strong contribution off the bench, the Savage Storm struggled mightily in the shooting department in the trip finally at Ouachita Baptist.
Scott canned seven of 10 field goal tries, including five three pointers, as he pumped in a season-high 19 points but Southeastern only had one other double figure scorer with Dickinson’s 11 points.
The rest of the team hit just one of nine three point tries as they turned the ball over 19 times in the game, leading directly to 20 Ouachita points.
Women
Slowing opposing scoring was extremely difficult for the Savage Storm in a pair of conference losses, especially in the opening matchup in which Henderson State erupted for at least 20 points in every quarter, eventually shooting 49 percent for the game. That mark included 14 three pointers.
Southeastern, meanwhile, sank just 33 percent for the game on 19 of 56 shooting.
Kenzli Warden was the catalyst with 13 points and lone Savage Storm player in double digits. Tori Kilburn notched nine points, Akiera Hawk had eight with Abbie Barr and Halli Hyatt contributing six points apiece.
Then in the finale, Ouachita hit 46 percent from the field, including nine treys.
In the Ouachita setback, Southeastern had three players in double figures with two more right on the brink. Hawk pitched in 21 points with Warden adding a double-double that included 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kilburn posted 13 points despite being saddled with foul troubles. Hyatt and Barr tossed in eight points each.
