March 7, 2023

Uptown, NO: On Tuesday night at The Den in Uptown, New Orleans, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lions men's basketball team played a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Basketball First Round Championship contest against the defending National champions the Loyola University (LU) Wolfpack.

Two riveting halves of basketball battling between the Loyola Wolfpack and SAGU Lions ended with an 82-71 SAGU Lions victory.

Lion Review

•  The SAGU Lions gained control of the contest early with dominant play from "The King of New York," Philbert Weekes. Weekes appeared to be able to snatch the sun from the sky as he corralled offensive rebounds and used his buttery soft touch to convert post-hooks.
•  Cortland Blake also found success posting deep inside the paint, sealing defenders, and using decisive footwork to free himself for scoring opportunities.
•  Before the halftime break, the Lions' starting frontcourt of Cortland Blake and Philbert Weekes had already combined for 20 points and 14 rebounds.
• Eight more points were added by Brooks Haddock in the first half, including two long three-pointers.
•  The Lions' top playmakers in the first half were Alerick Hall and Noah Boling, who each had three assists.

•  As you might anticipate from the reigning national champions, Loyola responded in the second half of the game by making aggressive shots. SAGU, on the other hand, worked hard to break the Wolfpack's scoring streak and silence the boisterous home fans.
•  JJ Boling sprinted for three loose offensive rebounds during the game's closing seconds, turning the momentum in SAGU's favor. The Lions extended their lead late thanks to the freshman's intense hustle minutes.
•  Top performers in the Lion's victory were Philbert Weekes, Cortland Blake, and Brooks Haddock. Philbert Weekes ended the contest with a double-double of 20 points and 19 rebounds. Cortland Blake scored 24 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. Brooks Haddock scored a game-high 25 points.
•  Alerick Hall added eight assists. Noah Boling added eight points, and JJ Boling added seven rebounds.

Deal's Declaration
"Our guys showed so much grit and so much heart in finding a way to win this game. Big performances from Phil, Brooks, and Cortland, but this was a total team effort. The joy was evident tonight, and we are glad we get to play another game!" SAGU head men's basketball coach Delton Deal said.

Next Step
The Lions of Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) will advance to the round of 32 of the 2023 NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament and face the Tougaloo College Bulldogs.

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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.