Box Score
TYLER, TX: The third ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (27-3, 20-2 RRAC), without the aid of senior guard Jonathan Blake, had its 14-game win streak snapped in the regular season finale at Texas College (18-10, 18-4) on Monday. The Steers topped the Rams 81-64.
A forgettable first half saw Texas College hold the Rams to 27.6% shooting while the Steers shot 55.9% on their end and ran out to a 47-29 lead at the intermission.
Texas Wesleyan managed one push early in the second half, using a 12-1 run to whittle the lead down to nine at 50-41. However, the Steers scored consecutive baskets to stretch it back out to a more comfortable 54-41. The Steers got to the free throw line 21 times in the second half and held the Rams at bay on their way to the 81-64 win.
For the game, the Steers outshot the Rams 49.2%-34.5% and held a 40-31 rebounding advantage.
Texas College’s LeMario Kersee led four Steers in double-figure scoring with 18 points. LaDarren Williams added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Rams had already secured an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament as the RRAC Regular Season Champion. Before heading to Kansas City, for the NAIA National Tournament (March 16-22), the Rams will look to add another title at this week’s RRAC Tournament. The top seeded Rams will take on eighth seeded Jarvis Christian University (12-19, 9-13). That quarterfinal game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start on the campus of Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX.
The national tournament appearance will be the fifth for Texas Wesleyan in the last six years and twelfth overall. During the last six seasons, the Rams hold an overall record of 146-49 with four conference championships and one national title (2006). Texas Wesleyan also holds the third longest current streak, having been rated in the top-25 nationally in 41 consecutive NAIA Coaches’ Polls.
