Bartlesville, OK —
The No. 3-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles secured their spot in the KCAC Tournament Championship with an 80–71 victory over Southwestern on Saturday night inside Mueller Sports Center. With the win, the Eagles improve to 27–3 overall and will host Friends University in Bartlesville for the KCAC Championship game Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Oklahoma Wesleyan built momentum early, taking a 44–35 lead into halftime behind an explosive first-half performance from Temaje Izuagbe. The senior guard scored 22 of his game-high 36 points before the break, knocking down five three-pointers and setting the tone offensively. The Eagles maintained control in the second half, extending their lead to as many as 14. Though Southwestern attempted to rally down the stretch, the Eagles stayed steady, closing the door in the final minutes.
Izuagbe finished with 36 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including six three-pointers, while Jaden Wilson added 12 points and made key plays on both ends of the floor. Oklahoma Wesleyan shot 52.6 percent from the field and dominated the turnover battle by forcing 18 Southwestern turnovers while committing just six of their own. Those takeaways resulted in 23 points off turnovers, a decisive factor in the game. The Eagles also held a 26–21 rebounding advantage and outscored Southwestern 34–30 in the paint.
Oklahoma Wesleyan now turns its attention to Tuesday night's championship matchup against Friends University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Bartlesville with the KCAC title on the line.