BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Southwestern College saw its KCAC Tournament run come to an end Friday night, falling 80-71 to No. 3-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan in the conference semifinals.
The top-seeded Eagles (28-3) used a big first half and 36 points from Temaje Izuagbe to hold off the Moundbuilders, who dropped to 21-9 on the season.
Oklahoma Wesleyan led 44-35 at halftime, fueled by Izuagbe's 22 first-half points. The Eagles stretched the margin to as many as 14 in the second half and never relinquished control, despite several Southwestern pushes down the stretch.
The Moundbuilders shot an efficient 54.3% from the field (25 of 46) and matched the Eagles with 36 points in the second half, but turnovers proved costly. Southwestern committed 19 miscues, leading to 23 Oklahoma Wesleyan points.
Evan Barber paced Southwestern with 19 points, including 16 in the second half. Nigel John added 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Austin Hilton chipped in 11 points with three 3-pointers. Isaac Hoberecht contributed nine points and a team-high nine assists.
Southwestern briefly grabbed a one-point lead midway through the first half, but the Eagles answered with a surge that pushed the advantage to double digits before the break. The Moundbuilders cut the deficit to six early in the second half, but Oklahoma Wesleyan responded each time, including a late 3-pointer from Izuagbe that helped seal the outcome.
Izuagbe finished 13 of 18 from the floor and 6 of 10 from beyond the arc in his 36-point performance.
The Moundbuilders will now await their fate in the NAIA National Tournament. The NAIA Selection Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, when Southwestern will learn its postseason destination and first-round opponent.
