Waxahachie, TX | January 29, 2026 — In a nightcap that felt like the city collectively exhaled after a winter storm, the No. 8 Nelson University Lions rose to the moment, grinding out a hard-fought 78–73 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University inside a lively Sheaffer Center.
The game was tight from the opening tip. OPSU edged Nelson 38–37 at the break, leaning heavily on trips to the free-throw line, while the Lions countered with balanced scoring and timely perimeter shooting to stay within striking distance. Despite early foul trouble and frequent lead changes, Nelson never let the contest drift away.
The second half turned into a test of composure. Nelson responded with a 41-point frame, repeatedly answering OPSU runs with poise and purpose. JJ Boling was flawless from the field, knocking down all four of his shots and draining three triples to spark the offense, while also dishing out five assists. Micah Clark matched that energy with 15 points and key buckets late, including a crucial go-ahead layup in the final two minutes.
Trelin Green filled the stat sheet with 12 points and seven steals, igniting fast breaks and creating havoc defensively, while Jesse Iweze controlled the paint with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ozavian Buford added nine points off the bench and calmly converted late free throws as the Lions sealed the win at the line.
OPSU made one last push in the closing seconds, trimming the margin to one, but Nelson answered with ice-cold free throws down the stretch to put the game away. The Lions finished the night shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three, outpacing OPSU when it mattered most.
With the victory, Nelson improved to 17–3 overall and 12–2 in SAC play, continuing to build momentum in front of a home crowd that brought championship-level energy back to Waxahachie.
Next Up:
The Lions return to the Sheaffer Center on Saturday, January 31 at 4:00 PM for another SAC showdown against Wayland Baptist University (Texas) as conference play rolls on.
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.
