Waxahachie, TX | March 13, 2026 – The postseason atmosphere inside the Sheaffer Center delivered exactly what Nelson University hoped for Friday night, and the Lions responded like a championship-caliber team. Behind a commanding offensive performance and a relentless attack at the free-throw line, No. 1 seed Nelson defeated Arkansas Baptist 96–81 in the First Round of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament.
The victory moves the Lions forward in the national bracket and continues a historic season that has already seen Nelson capture the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the second consecutive year.
From the opening tip, Nelson played with the urgency and intensity of a team determined to protect its home floor. The Lions jumped out to an early lead behind aggressive defense and transition scoring, forcing Arkansas Baptist into difficult possessions while creating opportunities in the open court.
Micah Clark ignited the Sheaffer Center crowd early with a three-pointer and a powerful dunk that helped spark a quick Nelson run. The Lions pushed their advantage to double digits midway through the first half, using crisp ball movement and timely shot-making to keep Arkansas Baptist on its heels.
At the halftime break, Nelson held a 52–40 advantage, fueled by Clark's 15 first-half points and a physical presence inside from Jesse Iweze, who relentlessly attacked the rim and drew fouls. Iweze was nearly automatic at the line early, knocking down 10 of his first 13 free throw attempts in the opening half.
While Clark set the offensive tone, the Lions' balanced scoring proved to be the difference throughout the night.
Clark finished as the game's leading scorer with 27 points, while Trelin Green provided a steady hand at the point guard position with 16 points and three assists.
Iweze added 14 points and four rebounds, consistently forcing Arkansas Baptist into foul trouble with his physical play in the paint. Nelson also received strong contributions from Ozavian Buford, who chipped in 10 points, while JJ Boling added seven points and helped facilitate the offense.
The Lions shot an efficient 51.7 percent from the field and knocked down seven three-pointers, while also dominating the interior with 40 points in the paint and a 35–28 rebounding advantage.
Arkansas Baptist showed resilience throughout the second half, trimming the Nelson lead to single digits early after the break. However, every time the Buffaloes attempted to gain momentum, the Lions answered.
Clark delivered two critical three-pointers during the second-half surge, while Green and Buford combined for several key baskets that restored Nelson's double-digit cushion.
A thunderous dunk from Iweze late in the second half sent the Sheaffer Center crowd into a frenzy and served as a final exclamation point on a night where Nelson never surrendered the lead.
Nelson's depth also proved valuable in the tournament opener. Brionne Williams (7 points), Jordan Jenkins (6 points), and Abram Hicks (4 points) each provided productive minutes off the bench as the Lions maintained control throughout the contest.
In total, nine different Lions scored, highlighting the team-oriented approach that has defined Nelson's success this season.
Up Next
With the victory, Nelson improves to 26–5 overall and advances to the Second Round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Lions will remain in Waxahachie as the tournament continues at the Sheaffer Center, where Nelson will look to defend its home floor once again and keep its national championship hopes alive tomorrow at 5 PM. With the crowd roaring and the postseason stage set, the Lions showed Friday night that they are ready for the moment. And in Waxahachie, the road forward still runs through the Sheaff.
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.
