Hoops Preview: SAGU at LSUS

Monday night road doubleheader in Shreveport

Access to follow the game is detailed

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The Southwestern Assemblies of God University basketball teams have a tough task awaiting them in Shreveport, Louisiana on Monday evening; LSU-Shreveport.

Fans may follow the game’s play-by-play via a service called Live Stats. It is a text-driven account of the details of the events as they happen, along with current team and player statistics during the game.

Live Stats is the same service that is provided by SAGU at all home games and can be accessed by many applications, remote or on location.

Go to the Red River Athletic Conference website at www.redriverconference.com. In the left column under Winter Sports, click on either men’s or women’s basketball. Then, in the right Scoreboard column is the day’s schedule. Locate the SAGU game and click on the underlined subheading, Live Stats.

There is no charge to log on.

Women’s Basketball Game Preview

The Lady Lions, who split with the Lady Pilots last winter, have won two straight games and are showing progress. Head Coach Arlon Beadles’ team is 5-10 overall and 2-7 in the Red River Athletic Conference. They split with LSUS last year, with the home team winning each game.

LSUS, under Ronnie Howell (ninth season), has several NCAA Division I transfers making an impact this season. Winners of four in a row, they are 10-5 in all games and 8-1 against league teams.

On their home floor, known as The Dock, the Lady Pilots are 5-2, losing only to Belhaven University (Jackson, Ms) (14-5 record), 82-76 in overtime, and 73-65 to Langston University (16-0, 10-0 RRAC).

They are led by 5’10 sophomore forward Jenna Diakos (14.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and 5’9 junior forward Sharde Henry (13.1 ppg). Three other players each contribute nine points per game.

They average scoring 75 points (5th in RRAC) while allowing 62 (4th).

SAGU’s sophomore point guard Nia Winston continues to ignite the offense, scoring 12.8 ppg. She has reached double-digits in seven of the last eight games. Another sophomore, Jirah Rodriguez, a shooting guard, totes an 8.5 ppg average.

Shaquita Roberts, a six-foot junior, scores 8.5, though her calling card is blocking shots, where she has denied 62 thus far. Her 4.8 rejections per game is tops in the NAIA, and her 10.5 rebounds per game ranks #13 nationally.

Senior forward Gabby Bruner nets 6.3 ppg and 8.4 boards per outing. Roberts and Bruner rank #4 and #8 respectively in the Red River in rebounds.

SAGU averages 54 points (13th in RRAC) while surrendering 59 (2nd).

Men’s Basketball Game Preview

LSU-Shreveport, in their second RRAC campaign, took both games from Southwestern last season, 94-70 at the Sheaffer Center and 112-88 at The Dock.

Under “Captain” Chad McDowell, now in his ninth season as skipper of the (River) Pilots, they have won six straight league tournament championships in the RRAC and the Gulf States Athletic Conference. They were 30-4 in 2011.

LSUS is currently tied with SAGU for fourth place in the Red River with 6-3 marks. In all games, they are 8-6 while the Lions are 12-3. They are 4-1 at home, falling only to Texas Wesleyan University, 79-73, in three overtimes.

After coming up short on Saturday at Texas College, 75-68, they look to rebound against the Jungle Kings.

This could be a preview of a Red River tournament match-up.

At the helm of the Pilots is 6’6 senior Derrick Parker. The 2011 All-Conference forward scores 22.1 and yanks down 13.4 boards while erasing 37 enemy shots.

Greg Shyne, a 6’0 senior guard, does just that; shine. He bags 19.1 ppg while swishing 80% of his free throws. The team has three others scoring in double-figures; Isiah Bazile (11.8 ppg), Aubin Young (11.2) and point guard Mark Politte (11.0 ppg, 3.7 assists per game).

Jake Greene, a 5’11 guard, has made 26 three-pointers and 84% of FT’s while coming off the bench. Like a jalapeno, he’s green and hot!

LSUS scores 78 ppg (6th in RRAC) and yields 73 (3rd). They are the league’s top free throw shooting team at .706. SAGU is last at .595. Last season the Lions were #1 at .727.

Southwestern has three players, all guards, scoring ten or more in sophomore point guard Dominique Rambo (18.6 ppg), sophomore Craig Grigsby (10.2) and senior Ronald Horne (10.0).

Under new head coach Donnie Bostwick, six players have nailed 11 or more three-balls, a stat in which they average 9.9 per game; third in the NAIA.

Five players average between five and six rebounds per contest, led by junior Duce Ward (6.3), Horne (5.8), freshman Christian Wood-Dvorak (5.2) and freshman Mike Nwelue (5.1).

Jonathan Walter has come on of late. The 6’4 freshman guard, who moved into the starting line-up on Saturday, is a playmaker on both ends of the court.

Southwestern will return to campus late Monday night. They are off until Saturday, January 21, when they entertain Jarvis Christian College at 7:30pm.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.