Second-half surge lifts Lions, 82-62

Record rises to 5-0 against Crusaders

SAGU hosts #8 Westmont College on Saturday

DALLAS, Texas  --  The Southwestern Assemblies of God University men's basketball team scored 45 points in the second half in an 82-62 triumph over Dallas Christian College on Monday night.

It was their third game in four nights, all away from home. SAGU was flat early, showing the signs of fatigue after returning from a tournament in Kansas on Sunday.

The Lions upped their record to 5-0 with the victory. They led at intermission, 37-35, before pulling away.

Blessed with a deeper, more athletic bench than last season, the Lions' second unit kept the team in the lead until the starters began to find the range.
 
"Our bench really helped us," said second-year Head Coach Donnie Bostwick. "They delivered in the first half until the starters took control after halftime."
 
Sophomore guard Tyler Guidry (Houston, Tx / Westbury Christian) sparked the squad in the early stages of the game.
 
"Dallas Christian (1-8) battled us tough again," Bostwick said. "They make you work for everything you get. And they shoot the ball very well."
 
The Lions got out of the gate quickly in the second half, extended their advantage to double-figures, and secured it the rest of the night.
 
A 55-28 share of the rebounds paved the way for the Lions, with 26 coming on offense. SAGU forced 23 turnovers while making 15.
 
"We simply came out of the locker room very focused and fired up," the coach said of the second stanza.
 
Freshman forward Emmanuel Adoyi (Little Rock, Ark / Parkview HS) was a force on the defensive end. He had his best effort in the young season, ripping down 12 boards, four on the offensive glass, and scored eight points. Adoyi (ah-DOY, like a boy) was credited with four assists.
 
Sophomore power forward Mike Nwelue (Lewisville, Tx / Lewisville HS) got it going on the offensive end and dominated the glass on defense. That fueled the team's transition game. Nwelue (like DWELL-way) led four players in double-digits with 15 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Jonathan Walter (Garland, Tx / Garland HS) and James Ford (Victoria, Tx / Faith Academy) each bucketed 11 points, while Caleb Gentry (Hondo, Tx / Oklahoma Wesleyan Univ., Hondo HS) contributed 10.
 

Nationally-ranked teams vie on Saturday night and James Ford  )) and)

 
The Lions return to the court on Saturday when the NAIA's #8 ranked team, Westmont College, comes to town. The Warriors (4-1) will tangle with the Lions on Saturday at 5:00pm in the Sheaffer Center.
 
The night before, on Friday, November 23, Westmont will play Jarvis Christian College at SAGU. That game, too, will tip-off at 5:00pm (CST). The Bulldogs are 1-2, with both losses by seven points or less.
 
Contact: Mark "Link" Warde, SAGU 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.