TYLER, Texas—Dallas Jones scored a season high 27 points as the Texas Wesleyan men’s basketball team dropped a tough conference road contest on Monday evening in Tyler, Texas against Texas College 76-72. The loss is just the second of season for the Rams as they now fall to 7-2 on the season and 3-1 in RRAC.
Texas College jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to start the first half. Texas Wesleyan committed five turnovers within the first five minutes of the game and the Steers capitalized on the costly mistakes.
Jamal Robertson sunk down a three-pointer to give Texas College a 19-7 lead with 12:15 to play in the first half. The next few possessions would be the battle of the three-point shot as Oscar Griffin was able to knock one down from behind the arc but Robertson would answer right back and hit a three to bring the score at 24-10.
The Rams fought their way through the deficit to try to cut the lead before halftime. Griffin hit a three-pointer to bring the Rams within single digits. Dallas Jones hit 2 three-pointers in a row to put Texas Wesleyan within two at 28-26. Jones started to have the hot hand behind the arc and sunk down another one to give the Rams their first lead of the night at 34-32.
Griffin sparked the crowd with an electrifying dunk that helped the Rams maintain the lead. Mo Weathers hit a three-pointer and was fouled in the act by Kerry Jones shortly after. The Rams were able to go into the half with the lead at 39-37. Griffin had 17 points and 5 rebounds in the game while Weathers picked up 12 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Jones turned the ball over for the Rams to start off the second half as Robertson took advantage with another shot from behind the arc to give the Steers the lead at 40-39.
Jones was called for a flagrant foul on Titus Stevenson late in the second half. Stevenson was able to knock down both free throws to put the score at 72-67 with the Rams trailing.
The Rams were kept off of the scoreboard for nearly four minutes until Jones was able to hit a free-throw to end the freeze. Jones then was able to sink down a three-pointer to give the Rams hope and put them within two at 74-72 with seconds remaining in the game. Texas Wesleyan was unable to pull in front before falling to the Steers with a final score of 76-72.
Texas Wesleyan will look to return to their winning ways as they play their next game on the road in Hobbs, New Mexico against the University of the Southwest. Tip-off is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
