Waxahachie, Texas – February 26, 2017- Saturday’s Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) men’s basketball game against St. Gregory’s University was an important one for many reasons. It was the end of regular-season play, it was senior day for Keyunta Watkins and Junior Mireles , and it was the game Watkins hit his 1,000 th career point. All in all, the 77-66 victory over the Cavaliers was just icing on the cake.
With SAGU’s win, they take the second place spot outright in the Sooner Athletic Conference . Head Coach Donnie Bostwick wasn’t sure this placement would ever be a possibility, “I am as excited about what our team accomplished this week as I have ever been about any of my teams. We started the season losing senior Remington Mitchell to injury, so it is hard to believe that this group of young men would rally together and stay the course, coming only one officials call or one basket from a SAC Championship.”
The first half of the game was the way many of SAGU’s games have been lately, too close for comfort. At the halftime buzzer, SAGU’s Keyunta Watkins hit a three to bring SAGU’s within two points, 30-28, and giving them momentum for the second half.
The second half got off to a slow start and for the first two and a half minutes remained scoreless. Isaak Rowe capitalized off a Cavaliers turnover, scoring two and tying the score at 30. The remainder of the second half was close, but the Lions were able to pull away to a double digit lead in the final 1:17.
Coming into the game, Keyunta Watkins needed seven points to reach 1,000 career points in his two years at SAGU. Overall, Watkins scored 22 points for the Lions. Isaak Rowe scored 17 points. Kentton Williams added 13 points and Josh Williams had 
a double/double scoring 10 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
With the win, SAGU will for sure make the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. This is SAGU’s and Coach Bostwick’s fifth year in a row to qualify.
“I’m very proud and thankful for my two seniors. Only God will be able to help our staff replace Junior and Keyunta,” remarks Bostwick, “They are such incredible leaders and they work so hard to help their teammates succeed. I love them so much. They truly are my boys!”
Up next, the Lions begin post-season play. They will host John Brown University in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament. The game will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at 7pm.
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, SAGU SID, [email protected]
