Box Score
 
WAXAHACHIE, Texas – Kyle Preston scored a career-high 31 points as fifth seed Texas Wesleyan defeated fourth seed Our Lady of the Lake University (18-13, 14-9), 101-92 in the quarterfinals round of the Red River Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament on Friday night.
 
The Rams (20-11, 12-10 RRAC) advance to the semifinals to play Southwestern Assemblies of God University (28-3, 20-2 RRAC) on Saturday in Waxahachie.
 
Texas Wesleyan held an eight point lead in the first half at 24-16, but then the Saints responded by forcing a 17-3 run to pull ahead at 33-27 with 5:36 remaining before the half. After a tight finish to the first half, the Saints held a one point advantage over the Rams at 41-40 going into the locker room at halftime.
 
Dallas Jones hit a three-pointer from beyond the arc to give the Rams their first lead of the second half at 58-56 with 14:25 remaining on the clock. Jones finished the night with 21 points and four rebounds in the contest.
 
Preston knocked down a three-point bucket to give the Rams their first double-digit lead of the night at 80-70 with 6:02 to play.
 
The Rams shot 57.4 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from the three-point line in the win. The Rams were also 72.5 percent from the free-throw line and finished the game with a total of eight blocks. This is the second consecutive game Texas Wesleyan has scored 100-plus points and the fourth time this season the Rams have reached the 100-point mark.
 
Isaiah Jay scored in double-digits in the contest, and was just two rebounds shy of notching up a double-double with a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds.Oscar Griffin came away with 12 points and three rebounds.
 
“So proud of our team tonight,” said head coach Brennen Shingleton. “We challenged ourselves at the beginning of the week to make this opportunity count. These guys never cease to amaze me, coaches, managers and players did a great job. We now have to focus our energy on a SAGU team that’s probably playing the best basketball in our league.”
 
Tip-off between the Rams and Lions will start at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the championship game on Monday, March 4.