March 14, 2025

Alexandria, LA – With their season on the line, the No. 8 seed Nelson University Lions stepped onto the court at The Fort in Alexandria, Louisiana, locked in for a battle. Facing No. 9 seed Middle Georgia State, the Lions showcased poise, firepower, and relentless hustle, securing an 85-74 victory in the NAIA National Championship Tournament First Round.  

Nelson wasted no time setting the tone, building a 47-39 halftime lead behind a red-hot shooting performance. The Lions drained 10 first-half three-pointers and displayed relentless defensive energy to keep Middle Georgia State on their heels.  

Key Performances & Moments

CJ Hall (20 points, 4 assists) led the charge, controlling the tempo and delivering clutch free throws down the stretch.  

Micah Clark (16 points, 7 rebounds) provided the highlight of the night, throwing down thunderous dunks that ignited the Lions' bench and the Nelson faithful in attendance.  

JJ Boling (8 points, 6 assists) orchestrated the offense, while Trace Boling (9 points, 3 threes) added perimeter firepower.  

The bench stepped up in a big way, contributing 41 points, proving the Lions' depth could be a difference-maker in this tournament.  

Middle Georgia State made multiple runs in the second half, cutting the lead to as little as five points, but Nelson always had an answer. A huge dunk from Clark with 4:51 remaining swung momentum back in the Lions' favor, and a clutch three-pointer from Hall moments later helped seal the victory.  

What's Next?
With this win, Nelson University advances to the Second Round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament, where they'll look to keep their season alive and take another step toward a deep postseason run. #WhereLionsFindTheirRoar

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.