OKWUeagle.com

A Season for the Record Books

by Hannah Hopkins

OKWUeagle.com Staff Writer

For 374 glorious days, Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s men’s basketball team was on top of the standings and seemingly unstoppable. During these 374 days, national records were smashed and individual records were set.

Under the guidance of coach Donnie Bostwick, the Eagles won the 2009 NAIA Division II National Championship and set the all-time NAIA Division II consecutive win record at 39.

This season, the team has taken the momentum of winning a national championship and used it to their benefit.

On January 26th, the team won their 39th straight game, set a team record for most made 3-point shots in a game (22), and set two individual player records.

Senior All-American Steve Briggs made 11 3-point shots to break the team record and junior All-American Sadiel Rojas broke the team’s career rebounding record with 897 career rebounds.

Bostwick and the team set many goals for the 2009-2010 season, including winning a second national championship.

“Expectations are high because of the number of returnees from last year’s team. They are not any higher than the expectations we place on ourselves,” Bostwick said.

For Briggs, winning a new national title is more important that celebrating an old one.

“It’s a new year. Our goal is to win another national championship. Anything less will be disappointing,” Briggs said.

Another goal the team set was to play as a team and help each other out on the court.

“If you ask anyone on our team what its like to be a part of this team, they all will respond that we are not a team but a family of brothers that God has a hand of favor on. That gives us the strength to do amazing things and make history here at OKWU,” Rojas said.

“My main goal this season has been to get better daily with my teammates,” said Briggs.

Bostwick is proud not only of his team’s accomplishments, but also of their selflessness.

“Steve and Sadiel are great players. Their accomplishments are impressive but they would be the first to give credit to their teammates,” said Bostwick.

There is one important fact that the coaches and players always acknowledge: the team would be nothing without God.

“God has blessed our team with talent and it is our goal to honor Him by performing to our best ability,” Bostwick said.

The sentiment is echoed by his players.

“Breaking the rebound record was not a goal of mine this year, so I guess you could say it was just a plus that God has blessed me with,” Rojas said.

The road to the 2010 national tournament has not been entirely easy. On January 30th, the winning streak ended when the Eagles were beaten by conference rival Bellevue.

The loss has only made the team more determined to win a second national championship.

“Repeating is one of the most difficult task in sports. Every game we play is a championship game for our opponents. Our opponent’s crowd and team storm the floor after every loss. It just motivates us,” Bostwick said.

The team suffered two more losses during the month of February, losing to conference rivals College of the Ozarks and Central Christian College.

On February 26, the team will head to Bellevue for the conference tournament with a 26-3 record. They are currently ranked fourth in the nation.

Despite the losses this season and the end of the record streak, Bostwick and the team have determined to stay optimistic.

“We will glorify God no matter what our success. Through dark valleys or on mountain tops, we will praise him,” said Bostwick.

The Eagles will play in the first round of the MCAC tournament tonight, February 26, at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast in the Upper Drake Library.