Lawal Breaks LSC Record

January 22, 2009

WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University basketball player Abdullah Lawal has firmly planted himself into one entry into the Lone Star Conference record book and now has eyes on yet another.

Lawal, a 6-2 senior guard from Plano, Texas, has recently become the LSC all-time record holder for steals. He broke a mark that was set more than 10 years ago by a player from East Central University. Lawal now has 222 thefts in a career that has spanned just over 2 ½ years with the Bulldogs.

Lawal's accomplishment is all the more remarkable considering he played his freshman year at the University of Wyoming in 2004-2005. He played sparingly with the Cowboys appearing in only five games. He did not play basketball the following year, choosing instead to return to his home state of Texas where he attended Frank Phillips Junior College.

"Honestly, I kind of stopped playing basketball," Lawal said. "Things didn't go as I had hoped at Wyoming.  I was looking just to get my associates degree and figure out what I wanted to do."

Lawal was persuaded to try the sport again by SWOSU coach Todd Thurman who was beginning to build the pieces for what has been a successful run as the Bulldogs head coach. Lawal was one of Thurman's first recruits and quickly became the cornerstone of an in-your-face defense that often left opponents frustrated and frazzled.

Lawal finished his first year at SWOSU with 50 steals which was good enough to rank him seventh in the Lone Star Conference. The modest totals - an average of 1.85 per game - take on a new look when examined closer. Lawal played less than 16 minutes a game as the Bulldogs relied heavily on a 10-man rotation.

"I didn't think I played all that well, I was just trying to figure out where my place was on the team.  I just tried to get into people's heads and throw them off their game," Lawal said. "It takes some time to learn about the league and the style of officiating. You learn what you can get away with and what you can't."

The following season, Lawal's junior year, his numbers begin to accelerate. He cranked up the defensive heat, played with more aggression, and was turned loose by Thurman to wreck even further havoc on opponent's offenses. He finished the year with 91 steals, a school record, and led the league averaging 3.3 per game. His peers and fellow coaches were beginning to pay close notice. Lawal was recognized as the North Division's Defensive Player-of-the-Year in a vote by the league's head coaches.

For an encore this season, Lawal has been even better in his last go round. He has 81 steals through 18 games and is averaging 4.5 per game. He leads NCAA Division II in the category and has nearly twice the number of steals as his next closes league competitor - Central Oklahoma's Eric Casenave with 45. Lawal has more steals than four teams do combined - Northeastern State, Cameron, Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central.

He is now moved within range of eclipsing former UCO All-American and Division II Player-of-the-Year Joe Newton's LSC mark for most steals in a season with 110 set 11 years ago. He is on pace to have 126 by the end of the regular season.

"Getting the steal record is important to me, but I understand the value of helping our team win," Lawal said. "The best way I know to help our team is creating havoc and playing with energy. If I do that, the records will take care of themselves."