BETHANY, Okla. — LB Willis was one point short of tying a career-high as the sophomore had a season-high 23 points for Southern Nazarene in a 71-57 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
 
Willis, who notched his first 20-point game of the year, went 8-for-14 from the field, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and went 5-for-9 at the line for the Crimson Storm (9-9, 5-7 GAC). He also had seven rebounds and two steals. CJ Rodriguez had 14 points and seven rebounds as went 4-for-8 from the field and 3-for-5 from downtown. Anton Kankaanpaa, Garrett Butler and Corey McCrary each had eighth points as well. Kankaanpaa and McCrary each had four rebounds while McCrary had two assists.
 
The Crimson Storm nearly hit 50 percent from the field going 25-for-52 and 11-for-27 from 3-point range. Southern Nazarene turned the ball over just seven times and turned 10 SWOSU turnovers into 14 points. The SNU bench also had 22 points compared to nine from the Bulldog's reserves. The win stops a three-game skid by the Storm and it gives SNU the series sweep for the season.
 
The Crimson Storm held a 17-10 lead early in the first half, but Southwestern answered with 11 straight to take a 21-20 lead. The Storm responded as a CJ Rodriguez 3-pointer sparked a 19-8 run to end the half and put SNU on top 39-27.
 
The Bulldogs opened the second half with eight straight to cut it to four on two difference occasions, but the Storm pushed it back to double-digits quickly. The Storm led 58-46 with 8:49 left and just kept Southwestern at bay the rest of the game. The Bulldogs closed the gap to nine three more times, but that was as close as they came.