Box Score

LUBBOCK, TX:  The tenth ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (3-1) suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Lubbock Christian University (4-3) on Saturday.  The Chaps took the second of back-to-back contests by a score of 89-80.
 
The game was the second of a rare back-to-back series on the schedule.  The Rams topped the Chaps 73-71 in Fort Worth on Monday, before traveling to Lubbock for Saturday’s contest.  The loss snapped a streak of 18 consecutive regular season wins for Texas Wesleyan and eight straight wins on the road.  The Rams continue to lead the all-time series with the Chaps, 9-7.
 
The Chaps blitzed the Rams, holding TWU to just one field goal and racing out to a 28-4 lead nearly seven minutes into the contest.  Texas Wesleyan finally woke up midway through the first half and cut the score to 39-28 with eleven unanswered points, but the Chaps scored the final 13 points of the period and led 52-28 at the half.
 
In the first half, the Chaps shot 60% (22-37) from the floor, while the Rams managed just 33% (7-21).
 
LCU opened the second half with a three from Jevvon Hunter to take a 27-point lead at 55-28.  The Rams made a strong push in the closing minutes, but the margin was too great to overcome.
 
Texas Wesleyan made it an 87-80 game with 55 seconds to play after an 18-6 run that took just 2:34.  However, the Rams missed five field goal attempts in the final minute, and a pair of LCU free throws accounted for the 89-80 final score.
 
For the game, the Chaps outshot the Rams 53.2%-42.9% from the field.  LCU also held a 32-26 advantage on the boards.
 
Brian Talley led the Rams with a season-high 26 points while hitting 6-of-7 three-point attempts.  Ronnie Moss and Jazz Holman each contributed 15 points, and Oscar Griffin added 12 for Texas Wesleyan.
 
All five LCU starters reached double figures in scoring, led by Rashad Sample’s 21 points, eleven assists, and six rebounds.
 
Head coach Terry Waldrop was not pleased with his team's performance.  “We were not ready to play today, and that is not characteristic of our program," he said.  "We will rebound from this and be ready going forward.”
 
The Rams open Red River Athletic Conference play on Monday, when they host Jarvis Christian College.  That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.