Lawal Wins Top Defensive Award

March 7, 2008

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University basketball player Abdullah Lawal was chosen as the Lone Star Conference North Division Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

Lawal, a 6-2 junior guard from Plano, Texas, set a new school record by recording 91 steals this year. He led the Lone Star Conference averaging 3.25 thefts per game and was ranked third in NCAA Division II as of last week.

Lawal, who came to SWOSU in 2006 after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Wyoming, had his best season yet with the Bulldogs. Although he had a modest scoring average of just 4.4 points a game, Lawal was a constant menace to other teams often disrupting their offensive sets with his relentless pressure. He had steals in 27 of SWOSU’s 28 games with his most coming when he swiped eight in an overtime win against Texas A&M-Commerce.

Lawal twice scored 13 points and had his only double-double of the year when he scored 13 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against Angelo State.