MBB GAME NOTES: VERSUS SOUTHERN NAZARENE MARCH 8, 2025

FORT SMITH, Ark. – Following an upset win over Oklahoma Baptist last night the Reddies meet the Crimson Storm in the semifinals in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
 
The Reddies are set to meet No. 1 seeded and regular season champions Southern Nazarene at 5:45 p.m. at Southside Arena in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
 
The last time these teams met the Reddies won in overtime 86-82 and Freshman of the Year Rondae Hill scored 29 points, the most points scored by a Reddie freshman since Chris Parker's 26-point performance against Ouachita Baptist.
 
Against Southern Nazarene at home the Reddies came out of the gate on fire, taking a 23-5 lead, following a Jamarion Brown basket. Southern Nazarene would not go away quietly, going on a run themselves and trailed by just three going into the half.
 
Head coach Jimmy Elgas turned towards a double-big man lineup in the second half. Nehikhare Igiehon and Braydon Redd held down the paint for HSU. Henderson State outscored the Crimson Storm 38-26 on points in the paint, Igiehon scored 19 points, Redd added 11, and the two were a combined +9 +/- on the night.
 
In overtime the Reddies held off the Crimson with the help of three dunks, two from Igiehon and one from Tim McDonald.
 
Henderson State currently leads the conference in offensive rebounds (11.4) and ranks first in total rebounds per game (35.3) among teams still in the tournament. HSU also ranks first in blocked shots per game (3.45) and second in steals per game (7.41) among teams still in the tournament.
 
The Reddies have now played in the semifinal round of the GAC Tournament in five of the last seven seasons. Head coach Jimmy Elgas earned his 150^th win at Henderson State last night versus Oklahoma Baptist.
 
The regular season champions and No. 1 seeded Southern Nazarene remained atop the conference all season. The Crimson Storm began conference 15-1 but lost four of their last six games heading into the GAC Tournament.
 
In their last outing SNU beat to Arkansas Tech 60-47, the Crimson Storm's leading scorer Stevie Strong scored 16 points on 5-15 shooting from the field. Strong was third in scoring during conference play, averaging 19.5 ppg.  In two outings versus the Reddies strong averaged 36 ppg and 7.5 assists.
 Off the bench the Crimson Storm had a major contribution from Jeremy Golson. Golson scored 17 points on 5-7 shooting from deep. Golson scored 20 versus the Reddies at home but in Arkadelphia scored 3 points and was a -19 +/-.
 
Against Arkansas Tech SNU held the Wonder Boys to just 26 points in the paint, six points off turnovers, four second chance points, zero fast break points and eight bench points. SNU had just six steals but scored 17 points off turnovers.
 
Southern Nazarene has been as consistent as they come in the conference. The Crimson Storm average 74.6 points per game during conference play and hold opponents to just 67.0 points per game, the best margin in the conference at +7.6 points per game.
 
In Bethany the Crimson Storm got hot early against the Reddies, scoring 44 points in the first half and connecting on eight threes in the first half. Strong scored 34 points and collected six steals.
 
During the Crimson Storm's four-game losing streak they reached their conference average in points per game (74.9) just once, in the overtime game against HSU. In the loss to East Central Southern Nazarene had four players score in double figures but Strong did not play.
 
Southern Nazarene is led by BJ Foster who enters his second season at the helm for the Crimson Storm with an overall record 37-20.
 
Players to Watch:
 
Jamarion Brown quietly dominated the game for the Reddies versus Oklahoma Baptist. Brown's eight points, six rebounds elite defense all the night.
 
Rondae Hill received GAC Freshman of the Year on Wednesday Night and proved the coaches right with their decision. Hill scored 25 points versus Oklahoma Baptist on 7-14 shooting from three.
 
Tip off versus Southern Nazarene is set for 5:45 p.m. at Southside Arena in Fort Smith, Arkansas.