Last week, the Saint Xavier men’s basketball team fell to William Penn University 75-65 in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament, marking their final game of the season.
The Cougars ended the year with an overall record of 24-8, their most wins in a season since the 2013-14 season.
They also qualified for the NAIA National Tournament, making that the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Their most impressive stat however, was the team’s three point percentage.
SXU made a remarkable 40.3% of their three point shots which ranked number one in the NAIA.
Three players from the squad earned All-CCAC Honors, which included one first-team selection, two second-team selections, and one honorable mention.
Senior guard, Jaeden King, led the way for the Cougars earning first team honors.
King was consistently the Cougars most efficient and effective scorer on the season, leading the team with an average of 20.5 points per game, and 5.3 rebounds per game.
King was also second on the team with 41 steals.
Senior forward, Jack Halverson, and junior guard, Cedric Johnson, earned second-team honors playing some major key roles for the team.
Despite only playing nineteen games of the year, Halverson was a key contributor to the offense, averaging 13.9 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and just above 2 assists per game.
Halverson led the team in blocks with 29 overall.
Johnson was just as impactful on his end, averaging 14.2 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game.
He was also third on the team with 37 steals.
Perhaps the most underrated player on the Cougars team was All-CCAC honors selection, junior forward, Kevin Bishop.
Bishop averaged 12.9 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, and 21 blocks total on the season.
Though Bishop was the fourth highest scorer during the course of the season, no one was as efficient as he was , as Bishop made a team high 61% of his field goals.
The only other main starter not to be named to the All-CCAC team, was senior guard TJ Babikir, who deserves recognition for his performance this year.
Babikir scored 8 points per game, 3 assists per game, and recorded a team high 49 steals overall.
The season for the Cougars was overwhelmingly positive with so many historic achievements and great performances from multiple individual players.
This is a team that displayed true chemistry and countunity that helped them power through loads of adversity in their path.
Congratulations to head coach Robert Ford and Assistant coach Taylor Jones for the work they’ve done with this group of men.
Both coaches are in their second season and have already turned SXU into an offensive threat.
Though presumably many of the key seniors played their last collegiate game last week, Saint Xavier will not forget the hard work and dedication!
The returning Cougars will look to strike again next season and are poised to avenge their shortcoming this past year.
About Post Author
