November 14, 2024

Oklahoma City – In a nail-biting Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) showdown, the RV Nelson University Lions opened conference play with a valiant effort against the No. 23 Oklahoma City University Stars. Despite a fierce battle on the road, the Lions were edged out by the Stars in a thrilling 77-74 contest on Thursday evening at Abe Lemons Arena.

The Lions came into the game with high energy, eager to make a statement in SAC play. Their determination was clear as they took a slim lead into halftime, 41-40, after a fast-paced first half. Nelson's CJ Hall led the scoring effort, putting up a hard-fought 16 points. 

JJ Boling was another standout for Nelson, adding 12 points and showcasing strong defensive instincts with three steals. Noah Jonker also made an impact off the bench, contributing 13 points in just 16 minutes, efficiently shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Jordan Jenkins added 7 points and snagged 6 rebounds, battling fiercely on both ends of the court.

Despite their intensity, the Lions faced challenges in the second half, shooting just 34.29% from the floor. Oklahoma City's defense tightened, forcing Nelson into difficult shots and limiting their opportunities in the paint. The Stars pulled ahead in the second half, leveraging their size advantage to outscore Nelson 38-28 in the paint and securing 16 second-chance points to Nelson's 10. The Lions were forced to rely heavily on perimeter shooting, hitting 11 of their 34 attempts from deep.

The game saw multiple lead changes and ties, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Nelson's bench proved crucial, outscoring Oklahoma City's reserves 32-3, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Stars' disciplined play. Oklahoma City capitalized on key moments down the stretch, holding off the Lions in the final minutes and sealing their victory from the free-throw line.
 

Next Up?
The Lions return to their home court at the Sheaffer Center for another SAC battle on Saturday, November 16th, facing off against Mid-America Christian University (MACU) at 4 PM.

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.