Waxahachie, Texas- January 10, 2016- The Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) men’s basketball team beat University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO).  The Lions topped the Drovers 88-69.  The NAIA no. 18th ranked team, SAGU, is now 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference .  USAO is now 6-5 overall and 1-2 in the SAC.

“It felt good watching our players bounce back from a disappointing loss. We can build on this game,” says head coach Donnie Bostwick , “Our effort, ball movement, and decision making was good tonight and we showed better team effort.”

The Lions were able to lead the entire game and at halftime SAGU was up by 13 with a score of 45-32.   However, USAO was able to stay close, especially to start the second half.

With 13:43 left in the game, USAO’s Taran Buie made two free throws to bring the game within nine points.  With 6:18 remaining, SAGU led 68-61.

SAGU’s Emmanuel Adoyi hit a three to extend SAGU’s lead by 10. Michael Ryce and Adoyi were able to make back-to-back baskets that made the score 75-61 with 4:50 left in the game.   From that point on, SAGU was able to break open the game open, partly thanks to three three-pointers in the final minutes.

Four out of SAGU’s five starters scored in the double digits.  Emmanuel Adoyi scored 18 points and had 14 rebounds and three steals. Isaak Rowe scored 16 points. Jason Gentry added 13 points and Keyunta Watkins scored 12 points. Rishaad Alexander and Michael Ryce each added nine points.   SAGU shot 50% from the three point line, going 16 for 32.

USAO’s Taran Buie scored 29 points and had nine rebounds. Greg Smith scored 17 points.

Two of SAGU’s most recent losses came from Southwestern Christian and Evangel.  Coach Bostwick believes if SAGU played with the effort they did against USAO, those games were winnable, “Southwest Christian and Evangel both had wins over ranked teams tonight which shows our losses were against solid opponents, but we should have won at least one of those two if we played with the effort we did tonight. We have to find that fire nightly and compete.”

SAGU will next play St. Gregory’s on Thursday, January 14, 2016. SGU is 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the SAC. Game time is at 8pm at SAGU.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.

Contact: Natalie Tristan, Sports Information, [email protected]