The Texas Wesleyan men’s basketball team tipped off to a new season Thursday night as the Rams traveled to meet Lubbock Christian University on a neutral site in Abilene, Texas at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum. The Rams defeated their future Sooner Athletic Conference opponent 77-74 to start the season 1-0.
 
The Rams, who were ranked at no. 17 on the NAIA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 poll, will join the Lubbock Christian Chaps in the Sooner Athletic Conference beginning next year, which makes the first win of the season a bit sweeter for first year head coach Brennen Shingleton.
 
“I am so proud of our program tonight,” said Shingleton. “We played a very well coached Sooner Conference LCU team that really made us guard them. This was a great first test and it showed really what all our hard work this preseason has done. We defended and rebounded as a team and more importantly showed a genuine team effort.”
 
The Rams were off to a hot start as they jumped out to an early lead within the opening minutes of the tip-off. Dallas Jones connected behind the three point line on an assist from Mo Weathers to give the Rams a 9-0 advantage.
 
Lubbock Christian responded shortly thereafter with a 10-0 run of their own to tie the score at 12-12 with 11:23 remaining in the first half.
 
Texas Wesleyan was plagued with turnovers and a missed shot opportunity which LCU took advantage of to extend their lead 20-12 with 9:52 remaining in the first half, but the Rams showed their resilience and bounced back to take the lead going into halftime 39-36.
 
The second half stayed close the entire period as the lead stayed within single digits. With .58 seconds left in the game Oscar Griffin drove to the basket with a layup to push the lead out to 75-71. A foul by Jabril Durham of LCU sent Mo Weathers to the free throw line who was able to knock down 1 of 2 from the line to extend the score 76-71.
 
As the time clock was winding down, Anthony Brancato hit behind the three-point line on an assist from Jabril Durham to put LCU back into the game down by two points with the score at 76-74 with .28 seconds remaining left to play.
 
Texas Wesleyan held possession and was able to dribble the ball out to run the clock down to .15 seconds before a foul was finally called on Jabril Durham to send Oscar Griffin to the line. Griffin connected with one free throw to help seal the final score of 77-74 in the season opening win.
 
Dallas Jones led the way in points for the Rams with 21 and also chalked up 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Oscar Griffin followed with 18 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds.
 
“All 22 people in our basketball program contributed in this first game and that makes it fun,” said Shingleton. “We are looking forward to getting back to practice to prepare for another tough Sooner Conference team in Wayland Baptist on Monday.”
 
Texas Wesleyan will return to action on Monday, November 5^th as they host Wayland Baptist University at the Sid Richardson Center with tip off slated at 7:30 p.m.