Box Score
FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (2-1) came up on the short end of a 107-102 score in a thrilling contest with 24th ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (1-2) on Wednesday.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that saw the lead change hands nine times.  The Saints used a 10-0 run to open a 44-34 advantage with 4:39 remaining.  Jorge Redmon ended that run with a three-pointer, and the Rams whittled the margin down to five, 57-52, at halftime.
 
The Rams outshot the Saints 64.3% - 48.9% from the field, and 53.3% - 31.6% from three-point range in the first half.  However, 15 TWU turnovers led to a whopping 23 points for the Saints.  OLLU also turned 13 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points.
 
The Saints held the Rams at bay in the second half, stretching their lead to as many as 18 points, 80-62.  OLLU continued to lead by a double figure margin, 96-86, with less than five minutes to play, when Rilwan Bakare converted a three-point play to spark the Rams.
 
Kenny Rhymes flew through the air for an offensive board and a tip-in and Bakare scored another layup on an assist from Dallas Jones to cut the score to 96-93 with 3:16 on the clock.  A fast break layup from Rhymes later cut the deficit to two-points, 101-99, with 27 seconds remaining.
 
OLLU's Dylan Elias hit a pair of free throws, but Redmon drained a monster three with 16 seconds to play, bringing the score to 103-102.  In the final seconds, the Saints went 4-for-4 at the free throw line, while the Rams missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game as well as a pair of free throws.
 
"I'm really proud of our guys and their resiliency tonight," commented head coach Brennen Shingleton.  "We did not play our best, and we have so many new guys that are learning how important every opportunity to play can be.  OLLU was hungry and inspired, and we just gave up too many possessions to a tough well-coached team and couldn't connect at the end.  We fought back, and it just wasn't enough.  I expect us to learn from this situation and be a better team for it."
 
For the game, the Rams outshot the Saints 64.3% - 47.6% from the floor and 44% - 41.2% from distance.  The Rams also held a 40-32 advantage on the glass.  Extra possessions proved to be the difference however.  OLLU turned 26 turnovers into 39 points and 18 offensive rebounds into 20 second chance points.
 
Six Rams reached double figures in scoring.  Redmon led all scorers with 24 points.  Deonte Jones finished with 19 points.  Dallas Jones scored 14 points.  Vernell Blackman finished with 12, Bakare scored 11, and Rhymes added 10 points to the cause.
 
OLLU was led by Elias' 21 points, while Xavier Roberson added 20 points in the win.
 
The Rams will return to action on Monday, when they host Paul Quinn College.  That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.