OKLAHOMA WELSEYAN EAGLES set for CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH AFTER SEMIFINAL VICTORY
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Tamaje Izuagbe (11) goes to the basket during the Eagles’ 80-71 win over Southwestern in KCAC semifinals in Bartlesville last Saturday. OKWU hosts the KCAC championship title Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Friends University.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan Christian University’s Yashi McKenzie (0) goes to the basket against Southwestern last Saturday. The Eagles won 80-71 and host the KCAC championship title Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Friends University.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
March 3, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Led by a career-best performance from Tamaje Izuagbe, the No. 3 Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles (27-3, 20-2) are soaring into Tuesday’s championship game. Izuagbe, the newly minted KCAC Player of the Year, powered the Eagles to an 80-71 win over Southwestern College (KS) last Saturday, dropping 36 points in front of a capacity home crowd.
Izuagbe was nearly unstoppable, shooting 13-for-18 from the floor and connecting on six treys. The sophomore standout’s performance provided the ultimate revenge after a narrow 83-80 loss to Southwestern on Feb. 4.
The Eagles took a nine-point lead into the locker room and never looked back. While both teams poured in 36 points during a dead-heat second half, OKWU’s defense made the difference. The Eagles stifled Southwestern throughout the game, forcing 18 turnovers while committing just six of their own. Jaden Wilson dropped in 12 points, followed by Nick Bene with nine and Yashi McKenzie with eight.
The road to the finals began last Thursday with a 76-59 home win over Avila University (MO). Izuagbe set the tone early in that matchup, scoring 22 points to help the Eagles advance past the quarterfinals. Before Saturday’s contest, 22 points in the Avila game was Izaugbe’s highest career college score.
The stage is now set for a top-20 showdown at the Mueller Sports Center in Bartlesville. The No. 3 Eagles will face No. 17 Friends University (KS) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. While OKWU swept the regular-season series with wins of 83-77 and 71-70, Friends earned their title berth with an 83-76 victory over Evangel University last Saturday.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan Christian University student and fan Isaiah Hall cheers on the Eagles in their 80-71 win over Southwestern last Saturday. The Eagles host the KCAC championship title Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Friends University.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles head coach Donnie Bostwick has been named KCAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Following their regular-season conference title, the Eagles dominated the 2025–26 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason awards:
Individual Awards: Tamaje Izuagbe was named the KCAC Player of the Year, while Jaden Wilson earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Both players were also selected for the All-KCAC First Team.
Conference Honors: Ethan Williams received All-KCAC Second Team honors, and Angel Hidalgos was named to the All-Freshman Team. Nick Bene and Yashi McKenzie both received Honorable Mention selections.
Coaching Milestone: Head coach Donnie Bostwick was named the KCAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time. The honor follows a historic milestone for Bostwick, who reached his 500th career win at OKWU on Nov. 20, 2025.