Box Score

WAXAHACHIE, TX: Fifth ranked LSU-Shreveport (29-3) took a 71-67 win over third ranked Texas Wesleyan University (30-3) in the Red River Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Game on Saturday.

 

The regular season champion Rams jumped out to a 20-14 lead early on, but the Pilots held Texas Wesleyan without a field goal for the next 7:18. The resulting score was 27-22 LSUS with 4:29 on the clock. The Pilots later ripped off a 15-3 run that stretched the lead to 44-29, and LSUS went to the break with a healthy 46-32 advantage.

 

The Pilots stretched their lead to as many as 17 points, 64-47, before the Rams made a run. A three from Brian Wanamaker sparked a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to single digits at 66-57. Texas Wesleyan continued to chip away and got within four-points at 68-64 after a pair of free throws from Jonathan Blake with 49 seconds to play. However, the Rams were unable to get any closer and the Pilots prevailed 71-67.

 

For the game, the Pilots outshot the Rams 42.6%-39.3% from the field. Texas Wesleyan hit 9-of-18 shots from long range, but only 14-of-22 at the free throw line. Both teams brought down 40 rebounds.

 

Wanamaker led all scorers with 25 points in spite of early foul trouble. Jeremy Smith and Blake both finished with 15 points for the Rams. That trio also earned All-Tournament recognition for their performance in three tournament games. Wanamaker averaged 25 points per game for the Rams.

 

Derrick Parker was named Tournament MVP after scoring 24 points and bringing down nine boards in the title match. Brance Davenport added 16 points for the Pilots and Eric Young finished with 12.

 

The two teams split their regular season meetings with both teams winning on their home court. Both teams will represent the RRAC in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, MO, March 16-22.

 

The bracket for the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Tournament will be announced in a live broadcast by Victory Sports Network on March 9, at 7:00 p.m.