Coach Bostwick discusses setback

Texas College tops Lions, 71-58

No alibis: "Tonight, it was not there"

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  In a game between two evenly matched college basketball teams, the visitors did more than arrive extra early in the afternoon. They played as though they were extra hungry too.

For the second straight season Texas College came to town and left with a well-deserved victory, this time in a 71-58 triumph over #26 ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

The Steers checked in earlier than normal, intent on being ready. They grabbed a quick 2-1 lead, extended it to 9-3 and never relinquished it the rest of the way. They were the aggressors from the opening tip-off.

“I take my hat off to Texas College,” said SAGU Head Coach Donnie Bostwick. “They were better prepared and executed on both ends much better than we did from the word go. That responsibility falls on me as the head coach.”

“They are as good a team as are we,” he added. “Our defense has kept us in games and (they) gave us a chance to win.”

“Tonight, it was not there,” he said, making no excuses. “They got any shot they wanted. Our breakdowns started the Jarvis game and they carried over to this game. We gave up too many opens shots and layups.”

“You are not going to beat a good team allowing them to shoot 51% (overall) and 44% from the three point line.”

“At the same time, we could not hit a shot on the offensive end,” Bostwick continued. “That’s the recipe for a loss, and that falls on me.”

Still, with two teams battling fiercely, both with 7-1 records when the game began, the Lions could have salvaged the game by making their free throws.

SAGU missed four of their first five and finished the game sinking just 8-of-22 (36%). The team was third in the league in accuracy from the foul line coming into the game. In the second half the club missed eight-of-11 tries.

Coach Bostwick never mentioned it.

“I looked out there (on the court), and we have four freshmen on the floor and a couple of sophomores,” he continued. “Some nights they are going to play like freshmen and sophomores. Tonight was one of those nights.”

“Texas College has a bunch of older seniors, much like Westmont College,” he pointed out. The #8 ranked Warriors (7-1) nipped SAGU in overtime, 69-65.

“They (Texas College) are pretty seasoned.” True that.

The Steers have seven seniors in their top eight players. It showed.

In the first half, when TC led 35-27, they made 13 of 23 shots (56%) while holding the Lions to 9 of 29 (31%) from the floor.

“We just need to keep improving and getting better. We have a couple days to prepare for Bacone and Langston.”

The Lions return to the floor with a weekend road trip to Central Oklahoma. They will meet Bacone College on Saturday in Muskogee, and then trek 130 miles to Langston University on Monday. Both are scheduled for 7:30pm starts.

“This time of year, going into finals, is a big challenge,” quipped the coach. “We will pray for wisdom and strength as we put this one behind us and push on. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.”

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.