Senior Guard Ike Nwaobi Attempts Floater Over Defender SXU Athletics
After nine straight road games of disappointment, the SXU Cougars finally lock in and earn a road win. It truly has been a long season with a great amount of losses and giving the opponents the best homecourt advantage.
SXU defeated Indiana University Northwest with a final score of 85-80 which improved their record to 8-12 and officially has their road record standing at 1-9.
They were led by Senior guard Ike Nwaobi, who came off the bench and finished the game with 21 points, and nine rebounds. Nwaobi came up big in the clutch when he scored 17 points alone in the second half and shot 60 percent from the field for the game.
The Cougars were also led by junior guard James Morgan as he finished the game with 20 points, two rebounds and assists, and a steal. The 20 point performance is marked as a season-high for Morgan and he was highly efficient, shooting 6/8 from the field and ¾ from three-point range.
Unfortunately, the Cougars aren’t out of the woods yet as their overall record is still negative. And after suffering a home loss against Olivet Nazarene University this past Saturday, the Cougars fall to 8-13 with only six games left in the regular season.
The CCAC Tournament begins on February 25, 2026 and the Cougars desperately need these wins in order to qualify for the tournament. Ultimately, they want to still reach the playoffs and qualify for the 2026 NAIA Opening Round which kicks off on March 13, 2026.
The dream scenario for sure is to go 6-0 for the remainder of the season, which would have them finish the season at 14-13. But you have to crawl before you walk and the Cougar’s biggest focus right now is to win the next game.
It’s now or never for the Cougars as they look to start a momentum shifting winning streak. They’ll be playing against Holy Cross College (Ind.) who are currently 9-13 on the season. Action takes place at home in the Shannon Center on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 PM.