OKLAHOMA CITY – Southwestern Assemblies of God outlasted Wayland Baptist 58-56 for the Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament championship Tuesday at the Gaulke Activity Center.
The contest came down to Joshua Kashila sinking a jump shot from the left side of the court with four seconds showing for Southwestern Assemblies of God. The Lions, ranked 24th in the NAIA, secured their third SAC Tournament title in five years.
Southwestern Assemblies of God (22-8) overcame trailing by nine points early in the second half. The Lions moved ahead by eight points with 3:19 left, but Wayland Baptist (19-13) fought back.
The Lions kept Wayland Baptist off the scoreboard for 5:54 down the stretch. Thad Udoh's layup put the Pioneers ahead 46-43 at the 8:19 mark.
Southwestern Assemblies reeled off an 11-0 run. Joel Polius had back-to-back jumpers to put SAGU on top 47-46 with 7:43 left. Polius dunked to punctuate the Lions onslaught, giving Southwestern Assemblies of God a 54-46 advantage with 3:19 to go.
Wayland Baptist responded with a 10-2 surge. R.J. Mason nailed three free throws to tie the game 56-56 with 13 seconds left.
Kashila, a junior from Angola, Luanda, became the SAC Tournament most valuable player after providing SAGU with 13.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over the tournament. Kashila pitched in 12 points, three rebounds and two assists Tuesday. Polius, a senior from Castries, St. Lucia, fueled Southwestern Assemblies of God with 20 points and six rebounds in the title bout.
Nathan Bailey from the Lions made the all-tournament team. R.J. Mason and Jibrael Washington represented Wayland Baptist on the all-tournament squad, and Rashaun Coleman from Oklahoma City University and Science & Arts' Cameron Hines rounded out all-tournament.
Josh Servantez, a sophomore from Shallowater, Texas, turned in 20 points while shooting 4-for-9 from 3-point land for Wayland Baptist.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Nathan Bailey, SW Assemblies of God; Rashaun Coleman, Oklahoma City; Cameron Hines, Science & Arts; R.J. Mason, Wayland Baptist; Jibrael Washington, Wayland Baptist.
Most valuable player: Joshua Kashila, SW Assemblies of God
| SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT |
| At Campus Sites |
| TUESDAY, FEB. 22 |
| First Round |
| Game 1 |
No. 5 John Brown 89, No. 12 Langston 73 |
| Game 2 |
No. 11 Central Christian 69, No. 6 Texas Wesleyan 64 |
| Game 3 |
No. 7 Mid-America Christian 83, No. 10 North Texas Dallas 72 |
| Game 4 |
No. 8 Southwestern Christian 103, No. 9 Panhandle State 94 |
| Quarterfinals |
| FRIDAY, FEB. 25 |
| Game 5 |
No. 1 Science & Arts 110, Southwestern Christian 100 |
| Game 6 |
No. 2 SW Assemblies of God 90, Mid-America Christian 83 |
| SATURDAY, FEB. 26 |
| Game 7 |
No. 3 Oklahoma City 85, Central Christian 56 |
| Game 8 |
No. 4 Wayland Baptist 74, John Brown 61 |
| At Gaulke Activity Center in Oklahoma City |
| MONDAY, FEB. 28 |
| Semifinals |
| Game 9 |
Wayland Baptist 73, Science & Arts 68 |
| Game 10 |
SW Assemblies of God 76, Oklahoma City 64 |
| TUESDAY, MARCH 1 |
| Championship |
| Game 11 |
SW Assemblies of God 58, Wayland Baptist 56 |