Box Score


FORT WORTH, TX: The 11^th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (9-0, 4-0 RRAC) took an impressive 85-68 win over Our Lady of the Lake University (4-4, 2-2) at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.

 

The previous meeting between the two teams decided last season’s Red River Athletic Conference regular season champion with the Rams prevailing 87-85.

 

On Saturday, the Rams shocked the Saints by opening a 27-9 lead nine minutes into the game. The lead swelled to 20-points (34-14) on a monster dunk from Jonathan Blake off a lob from Jeremy Smith with eight minutes to play. The Saints were unable to cut into that margin, and Texas Wesleyan led 51-30 at the break.

 

Bryce Hill scored all 16 of his points in the first half, connecting on 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from long range.

 

In the second half, the Rams held the Saints at bay and began managing the clock midway through the period. The Saints threatened to make things interesting when Justin Monk stole the ball under the OLLU basket and scored a layup to cut the score to 76-65 with five minutes to play. However, Brian Wanamaker drilled a three on the Rams’ next possession, and the Saints failed to score another field goal. With just over two minutes remaining the Rams put the exclamation point on the win when Wanamaker lobbed a pass to the rim from near mid-court and Blake finished with a nice jam.

 

“They play a difficult style to play against,” commented head coach Terry Waldrop. “Our execution wasn’t perfect tonight, but it was good. We made plays when we needed them to get the win.”

 

The Rams outshot the Saints 42%-36% from the field and 50% (8-16) – 30% (7-23) from long range. Texas Wesleyan also dominated the glass, 56-37.

 

Wanamaker scored a game-high 21 points. Blake (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Ty Gough (14 points, 12 rebounds) each had double-doubles, while Smith (9 points, 9 assists) just missed a third for the Rams. Hill finished with 16 points in the win.

 

OLLU was led by Arthur Govan’s 13 points, while Robert Martinez added 11.

 

The Rams will return to action on Saturday, December 11, when they host Southwestern Adventist University. That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.