Waxahachie, Texas | November 24, 2025 — Rivalry games are supposed to rattle the walls. Monday night inside the Sheaffer Center, they practically shook. In a high-octane, emotional, back-and-forth Sooner Athletic Conference thriller, the No. 20 Nelson University Lions stormed back from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat RV Texas Wesleyan, 88–83, behind grit, poise, and a wave of breakout performances.
Lions. Rams. Fireworks.
And in the biggest moments, Nelson's rising stars and battle-tested veterans delivered.
Trelin Green was the tone-setter. The junior guard attacked the paint with a determination that echoed through the gym, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, repeatedly stopping Texas Wesleyan runs and keeping the Lions connected when the game threatened to tilt. His downhill physicality possession after possession was the foundation of Nelson's second-half surge.
Then came the coming-out party.
Freshman Ozavian Buford announced himself to the SAC with one of the most explosive debuts the Sheaffer Center has seen since the days of Nelson legend Josh Kashilla. Buford poured in 19 points, knocked down four threes, and scored in every way imaginable. Each bucket grew louder as the crowd realized they were witnessing something special, a freshman refusing to play like one.
On the defensive end, the reigning back-to-back SAC Defensive Player of the Week, Jesse Iweze, made the gym shake. Six blocks. Six momentum-shifting, rim-protecting, energy-injecting blocks.
Every swat reset the pulse of the arena, igniting runs that turned the tide of the game. Iweze also added 10 points and 8 rebounds, anchoring Nelson's late-game toughness.
And when it was time to close the door, Nelson's closer stepped forward.
Dallas Smith went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in the final 24 seconds, sealing the win with ice in his veins while the Rams scrambled for one last comeback attempt. When every possession counted, Smith's calm at the stripe was the difference.
Micah Clark (15 points), JJ Boling (8 points, huge late three), and Jordan Jenkins (5 first-half spark points) provided critical contributions as Nelson's depth once again proved decisive. The Lions shot 50.9% from the floor, outscored the Rams 48–28 in the second half, and held Texas Wesleyan to just 33.3% shooting after halftime.
Next Up
More SAC conference action awaits:
- Dec 4 (Thu) – 8:00 PM
- at Wayland Baptist University
- Plainview, Texas
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.
