October 23, 2025 

Waxahachie, TX – The energy inside the Sheaffer Center was electric Thursday evening as the No. 17 nationally ranked Nelson University Lions opened their 2025–26 campaign in front of a roaring crowd for the annual Texas Snowstorm game. True to tradition, when senior guard JJ Boling scored the first basket of the season, a blizzard of white ping pong balls showered the court, signaling the start of another year of Pure Joy basketball in Waxahachie.

After the snow settled, the Lions got straight to business. Boling, who finished with a team-high 22 points, set the tone early by drilling a three-pointer from the wing and following with a steal and a fast-break layup that sent the student section into a frenzy.

Fellow veteran Micah Clark made it rain from beyond the arc, knocking down two first-half threes as Nelson sprinted out to an 11-point halftime lead. Inside, Jesse Iweze brought the power, delivering the first dunk of the season while adding 12 points and four rebounds on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting.

By the break, Nelson led 56–45, shooting a blistering 51% from the field and 44% from deep. The Lions' ball movement highlighted by crisp passes from Dallas Smith and Clark kept the Patriots off balance, resulting in 13 first-half assists.

The second half showcased Nelson's depth. Noah Jonker provided a major spark off the bench, scoring an ultra-efficient 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, slicing through the defense with smooth cuts and finishing strong around the rim.

Brionne Williams added 13 points and seven rebounds, combining muscle with finesse as he battled inside. Defensively, the Lions swarmed forcing 21 turnovers and turning them into 28 points off takeaways.

Nelson's lead grew to as many as 21 points midway through the half, and the Lions never looked back, maintaining control with poise and energy from start to finish.

Key Stats

• JJ Boling – 22 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl

• Noah Jonker – 19 pts (9-11 FG), 6 reb, 4 blk

• Brionne Williams – 13 pts, 7 reb

• Jesse Iweze – 12 pts, 4 reb

• Micah Clark - 11pts, 2 blk

• Dallas Smith – 5 ast (Team high)

• Nelson shot 50% FG, 41% 3PT, and dominated the glass 47–40

Next Up
The Lions return to the Sheaffer Center next Friday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 PM, hosting Southern University at New Orleans in what promises to be another high-energy matchup.

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-NELSON.