Box Score


FORT WORTH, TX: The sixth ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (17-2, 10-1 RRAC) was tested on Monday by Texas College (9-8, 8-3), but the Rams were up to the task. Texas Wesleyan trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before storming back for a 75-65 win.

 

The Steers came out hitting on all cylinders jumping ahead 14-8 in the early going. The Rams cut the margin down to three, 18-15, but Texas College later used a 9-0 run to gain control of the contest at 38-27 with 1:54 to play in the first half. The Rams closed the period with a tip-in from Ryan Glanzer and trailed 42-33 at the break.

 

Texas College shot an even 50% (16-32) from the field in the first half and hit 3-of-8 (38%) from long range.   The Rams ratcheted up the defense in the second half.

 

Texas Wesleyan began to show signs of life almost immediately in the second half. Less than two minutes into the period, Ty Gough scored a bucket and drew a foul. Gough missed the free throw, but Jonathan Blake was there for the board. Blake scored the put-back and was fouled.  He also missed the free throw, but Gough rebounded the miss and put it in. The sequence resulted in a 6-0 run that took just fifteen seconds off the clock.

 

The deficit remained in double-figures, 54-43, with thirteen minutes to play when the Rams really began to chisel away. A three-point play on a fast break by Brian Wanamaker capped a 12-4 run to make it a one possession game at 58-55.

 

With 4:02 on the clock Blake scored to tie the game at 61. After a defensive stop, Blake scored again to give the Rams their first lead since the opening basket of the game. In the final four minutes, the Rams outscored the Steers 16-4 to pull away for the 75-65 win. Blake put the explanation point on that closing run with a monster slam off an alley-oop pass from Wanamaker that put the Rams up ten, 73-63, with thirty seconds to play.

 

In the second half, the Rams held the Steers to just 28.6% (8-28) from the field including 0-for-10 from long range. For the game, Texas Wesleyan outshot Texas College 47.5%-40% and held a 42-37 rebounding advantage.

 

Blake keyed the win, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Wanamaker posted 14 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Jeremy Smith finished with 12 points as well.

 

“We’ve been about defense for a long time,” commented head coach Terry Waldrop, “it hasn’t changed. Texas College is a very good basketball team that played well tonight, but we played defense in the second half, improved our shot selection, got to the free throw line, and made big plays. Jonathan Blake played the best game I have seen him play on both ends of the court. It is a tribute to our conditioning and his determination.”

 

The Steers were led by Jacobi Bias’ 16 points. Marshal Taylor added 12 points in the loss.

 

The Rams will return to action on Thursday, when they travel to Hobbs, NM, to take on the University of the Southwest. That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. MST start.