Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX: Those who brought their valentines to see the sixth ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (23-2, 16-1 RRAC) take on third ranked LSU-Shreveport (23-2, 16-2) witnessed one of the best basketball games ever played in the Sid Richardson Center. The Rams topped the Pilots 77-66 in overtime on Monday.

 

Texas Wesleyan set the tone for the contest by holding the Pilots, who entered the contest averaging 93 points per game, scoreless for the first 4:38. The result was a 9-0 Texas Wesleyan lead. The Rams led by as many as 10, 24-14, and went to the locker room with a comfortable 32-23 advantage.

 

The second half was a different story as the Pilots went to a zone defense and held Texas Wesleyan to just 35.6% from the floor. LSUS used a 17-5 run to erase Texas Wesleyan’s 10-point edge and take their first lead of the game at 51-49. Jeremy Mayfield scored on a put-back on Texas Wesleyan’s next possession. The game remained tied at 53, when Mayfield brought the crowd to its feet with a slam off a feed from Brian Wanamaker.

 

The Pilots pushed ahead 60-57 with under four minutes to play. Mayfield scored a jumper and Wanamaker knocked down a three to put the Rams up 62-60 with 1:11 on the clock. On the next Pilot possession, Mayfield rejected a shot, but LSUS got the offensive board and Derrick Parker scored to tie the game with 38 seconds to play.

 

In the closing seconds of regulation, the Pilots stopped the Rams with a shot clock violation to regain possession with 2.8 ticks on the clock, but Parker’s attempt at the buzzer missed its mark and the game went to overtime.

 

Wanamaker opened the extra frame with a three-pointer. After LSUS got a bucket from Isiah Bazile, Ty Gough made one-of-two at the line and Jonathan Blake hit a triple to put the Rams up 69-64. Wanamaker went 8-for-8 at the free throw line in the final 1:38 as the Rams came away with a 77-66 win.

 

Wanamaker set another school record at the free throw line. Last week, the senior guard set records for free throws made (20) and attempted (22) in a game at Our Lady of the Lake University. On Monday, he set the school’s single game free throw percentage mark with a perfect 16-for-16 at the line. That record was previously held by Jason Neal who went 11-for-11 against Southern Arkansas during the 1998-99 season.

 

For the game, the teams shot an identical 37.7% (26-69) from the field. Texas Wesleyan went 7-for-23 (30.4%) from long range while the Pilots were 4-of-18 (22.2%) from beyond the arc. The Rams held a slight rebounding edge (48-43), while outscoring the Pilots 16-8 off of turnovers, 12-8 in second chance points, and 16-2 in bench points. The difference in the game came at the free throw line, where the Wanamaker led Rams shot 90% (18-20), while the Pilots managed just 62.5% (10-16).

 

“This was a very similar game to the one in Shreveport,” commented head coach Terry Waldrop. “This was two of the top five teams in the country going at it and you got to see overtime. The key to the game was getting to the free throw line, and I thought we did a tremendous job on their three-point shooters. Stephon Mudiay and Cody [Waldrop] were a great spark for us. They were pressed into a situation where they had to perform and they rose to the occasion. Conditioning is obviously a huge key when you get to overtime, and tonight’s game was a testament to the work our kids have put in.

 

“LSU-Shreveport is a very well coached program,” Waldrop continued. “I’m thrilled to have them in our conference. This was a Kansas City environment as it was at their place.”

 

Wanamaker led all scorers with 27 points. Mayfield posted a double-double on 16 points and 11 rebounds. Bryce Hill finished with 12 points and Blake contributed 10. Jeremy Smith notched six points and 11 assists.

 

The Pilots were led by Eric Young’s 23 points. Parker posted 13 points, while Brance Davenport and Corey Bingham each finished with 10.

 

The win gives Texas Wesleyan a leg up in the race for the RRAC regular season crown with five games to play. The Rams are seeking the title for a fourth consecutive year. LSUS had won six consecutive Gulf Coast Conference Championships before joining the RRAC this season.

 

The Rams will return to action on Thursday, when they travel to Austin, TX, to take on Huston-Tillotson University. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.