Tweet #theGAC  SHAWNEE, Okla. – Top-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State never trailed in its 82-59 triumph against East Central in Thursday’s Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championships quarterfinal contest from FireLake Arena.
 
The Savage Storm (24-5) got double-double performances from GAC Player of the Year Adam Dworsky and Freshman of the Year Ante Brzovic as part of the win. Dworsky totaled 13 points and 11 assists – against only one turnover – while Brzovic scored a game-high 25 points, on 11-of-18 shooting, and set the Men’s Championship single-game record with 18 rebounds.
 
The 11 assists increased Dworsky’s career total to 880, tying him with Alaska Anchorage’s Luke Cooper for the fifth most in NCAA Division II history. In three games against the Tigers this season, he averaged 25.7 points and 7.7 assists.
 
Jett Sternberger scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half and Kellen Manek connected on 6-of-9 shots – 3-of-3 from the 3-point arc in the second half – en route to adding 15 points.
 
Brennen Burns led the Tigers (11-18) with 22 points. While he went 10-for-17 from the floor, the rest of the Tigers shot just 30.6 percent, connecting on only 15-of-49 attempts
 
Following the off day Southeastern Oklahoma State will face the winner of Friday’s contest between Southern Nazarene and Henderson State in Saturday’s opening semifinal, scheduled for a noon tip. The Savage Storm swept its regular-season meetings with the Crimson Storm but split with the Reddies as both won on their home floors.