November 20, 2023

Panama City, FL - In a heart-stopping showdown at the Battle of the Beach Tournament in Panama City, Florida, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lions showcased early dominance but fell short to No. 25 Florida College in a nail-biting 85-84 defeat sealed by a last-second buzzer-beater three.

Lions Roar in the First Half
The Lions, led by the dynamic CJ Hall, ignited the court with a commanding first-half performance. Hall, the reigning Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Player of the Week, tallied an impressive 25 points, complemented by a team effort that resulted in 12 assists and a mere three turnovers.

CJ Kelley, a force on the court, contributed nine fastbreak buckets, propelling the Lions to a formidable 48-28 lead over Florida College at halftime.

Foul Trouble and the Turn of Tides
However, the second half presented challenges for the Lions, grappling with foul trouble that disrupted their substitution rhythm. Florida College seized the opportunity, leveraging size advantages to secure rebounds and create pivotal stops.

In a stunning comeback, Florida College strategically executed a purposeful free throw miss in the final play, to set up a game winning three pointer clinching victory after trailing by 22 points.

Key Stats Highlight Individual Performances
CJ Hall continued his scoring prowess with 32 points, CJ Kelley added 22 points and seven rebounds, while Noah Boling notched 15 points alongside six assists. Justin Collins played a pivotal role, contributing six assists.

Despite a 52% shooting display in the first half, the Lions faced a dip to 38% in the second half. In contrast, Florida College maintained a remarkable 64% shooting accuracy in the second period. Although forcing 17 turnovers, the Lions conceded in rebound and assist categories.

Looking Ahead
The Lions aim for redemption as they face Freed-Hardeman University on November 21 (Tue) at 1:00 PM in day two of the Battle of the Beach Tournament. A chance to regroup and rebound awaits the SAGU squad on the sandy courts of Panama City.

As a leading Christian university, SAGU educates and prepares individuals who want to serve Christ and others. SAGU helps students discover and develop their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered, learning community. We believe in affordable tuition, made possible in part through the financial support of donors who embrace the mission of SAGU and the importance of affordable, accredited programs to train Christians for leadership in ministry, business, education, and service. Most majors are available in-person in Waxahachie, TX, and online through a wide range of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.