Fort Worth, TX | January 12, 2026 — The No. 12 Nelson University Lions flipped the script Monday night in Fort Worth, erupting after halftime to pull away from Texas Wesleyan for an 82–74 road victory in Sooner Athletic Conference action at the Sid Richardson Center.
The Rams controlled the opening half, riding a hot start to a 47–32 advantage at the break. But everything changed once the Lions returned to the floor. Following a fiery and refocusing halftime message from Head Coach Delton Deal, Nelson emerged with renewed energy, toughness, and belief and the second half quickly turned into a Lion-led showcase.
JJ Boling was absolutely lethal from deep, drilling seven three-pointers on just eight attempts and pouring in a game-high 25 points. His perimeter shooting ignited a 50-point second half for Nelson and repeatedly silenced the home crowd as the Lions chipped away, then surged ahead. Micah Clark followed with 21 points on efficient shooting, while Trelin Green added 11 points and five assists to steady the offense during the comeback.
The Lions' defensive intensity told the story after the break. Nelson held Texas Wesleyan to just 27.3% shooting in the second half, forcing rushed possessions and capitalizing in transition. Jesse Iweze controlled the glass with a gritty double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds, helping Nelson win critical second-chance moments as momentum swung decisively purple and white. Ozavian Buford chipped in 10 points, knocking down timely shots as the Lions built separation.
Nelson shot 48.4% in the second half and 42.3% from three for the game, while also converting nearly 94% from the free-throw line after halftime closing the door with confidence.
With the win, the Lions improve to 13–3 overall and 8–2 in SAC play, adding another statement road victory to their growing résumé.
Next Up
The Lions head to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for another conference battle, taking on MACU Thursday night at 8:00 PM.
Nelson University (formerly SA GU) 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.
