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Rebounding is urgent for Lady Lions; all-out defense for Lions

Men’s SAC Preview of all 11 teams (click here for attachment)

FORT WORTH, Texas  — The Sooner Athletic Conference season begins to pick up steam on Thursday when two local, long-time foes hook-up in Cowtown .

Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Texas Wesleyan University will meet near Highway 287 in a pair of league games inside the Sid Richardson Center (directions below).

It is a 45-minute drive north on 287 from the SAGU campus.

The Lady Lions (7-6 overall / 1-2 in SAC) tangles with the Lady Rams (5-6 / 1-2) at 6:00pm (CST).

The two teams have enjoyed some spirited competition in recent years, though the Lady Ewes have taken the past five encounters. Overall, TWU holds a 16-10 edge over SAGU.

The Wesleyan Women account for 66.7 ppg and yield 67.3. SAGU’s team norms are 60.8 and 58.2.

Since each team struggles to grab more rebounds than their foes, so it figures the outcome will be decided in the paint. Winning the boards and controlling the lane may be critical.

The Lady Rams are paced by guards Takoia Larry (15.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Kashay Barnes (12.4).

The men’s game will tip-off approximately twenty minutes after the women’s contest concludes. The Lions (10-1 overall / 3-0 in SAC) and the Rams (7-5 / 1-2) are booked for an 8:00pm start.

Wesleyan has a mastery over SAGU in the series. The Lions won all three meetings last season yet still trail, 23-5. The two regular season victories by the Purple Pride were by only two points, 75-73 and 90-87.

The Rams are fresh off a 99-91 overtime win at home over then No. 7 ranked John Brown University (Ark). The Golden Eagles held a 64-49 lead midway through the second half before the hosts caught fire.

TWU have already topped then No. 2 ranked LSU-Shreveport , 86-84, at home, as well as No. 15 ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University (Ks), 94-92, also at the “Sid.”

Four of their five losses have come by 10-points or less, three of them by five or fewer.

Wesleyan has a very potent offense, led by a pair of hot hands in Jorge Redmon (20.5 ppg, 33 threes) and Deonte Jones (15.0 ppg, 46 threes) and a point guard, Jevron Hooks , who averages six assists per outing.

Rilwan Bakare , a 6-foot-7 recruit from Chicago, appears to be a ‘real one.’  He is scoring 14.3 ppg and is fourth in the SAC in rebounds, grabbing 7.2 rpg.

The Rams are scoring at an 89.3 points per game clip, including 92.4 at home. They also yield almost 86 points per contest. SAGU is scoring 83.2 and surrendering 70.5.

The game will be a traditional offense versus defense duel. Whoever dictates the pace of play is likely the victor.

Wesleyan finished 19-13 last season in the NAIA. They have won 20+ games in nine of the past eleven years, including the national title in 2006.

Directions:

From Interstate 30 (North):   Exit Beach St. south. Follow Beach St. to Rosedale Ave. Turn left (east) on Rosedale Ave. Follow Rosedale Ave. to Collard St. Turn left (north) on Collard St. The Sid Richardson Center is the third building on your left.

From Interstate 20 (South):  Take Highway 287 north toward downtown Fort Worth. Exit Rosedale Ave. east. Follow Rosedale Ave. to Collard St. Turn left (north) on Collard St. The Sid Richardson Center is the third building on your left.

SAGU returns home for Saturday matinee

SAGU returns home on Saturday, January 11, where they will entertain the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (USAO). The women’s game begins at 3:00pm, the men at 5:00pm.

The twinbill will be aired on SAGU TV by SAGU Sports Live , starting with a pregame show at 2:45pm.

Live Stats will also be available at:  http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10

Contact : Mark “Link” Warde , SAGU Sports Information Director, at [email protected] or at 469-658-2847.

Note : PPG – points per game. RPG – rebounds per game.