Waxahachie, Texas | November 20, 2025 — In a marquee-ranked matchup to launch Sooner Athletic Conference play, the No. 20 Nelson University Lions went toe-to-toe with No. 7 Langston, ultimately falling 77–71 inside a charged Sheaffer Center. The night delivered everything a conference opener should… tempo, toughness, and two teams trading blows possession after possession.
From the jump, Nelson's first-half defensive pressure set the tone. The Lions swarmed passing lanes, contested drives, and forced Langston into early turnovers. Trelin Green sparked the offense with 12 first-half points, knocking down a three and attacking the rim with confidence. Micah Clark and Latrel Davis added timely buckets, while Jesse Iweze continued his elite rim protection, patrolling the paint with multiple blocks and rebounds that energized the home crowd.
Langston responded with depth, physicality, and shot-making of their own, using a late surge to take a narrow 40–37 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Lions came out firing. JJ Boling caught absolute fire, drilling back-to-back transition threes to tie the game and ignite the Sheaffer. His 11-point second half was a critical spark as Nelson clawed back possession after possession.
Dallas Smith gave the Lions a key second-half spark, scoring tough buckets in traffic and breaking up Langston's runs. His energy and poise off the bench kept Nelson within striking distance.
Green continued to attack downhill, finishing with a team-high 18 points, while Iweze battled for 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 blocks, anchoring the interior on both ends. Boling totaled 13 points, and Clark added 10, including strong late-game finishes as Nelson refused to let Langston pull away.
Despite the relentless push, Langston's late-game execution led by key baskets from Orlando Thomas and Treshawn Cody proved to be the difference in the final minutes. The Lions' defensive intensity never dipped, but Langston's second-chance points and timely stops down the stretch sealed the outcome. Still, Nelson's toughness, discipline, and connectivity were on full display against a top-10 opponent.
Next Up
The Lions turn their focus to more home SAC action on Saturday at 4 PM, welcoming Central Christian College back into the Sheaffer Center. The group will look to build on tonight's competitive edge and continue establishing their identity in conference play.
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.
