Box Score

SHAWNEE, OK:  In a tightly contested game, the Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (11-8, 5-5 SAC) took a 72-67 loss at the hands of Oklahoma Baptist University (10-9, 4-5 SAC) in Sooner Athletic Conference play on Monday.
 
The Bison outshot the Rams 47.5%-42.2% from the field, while the Rams held a 40-33 advantage on the glass.  Texas Wesleyan hit eight three's to OBU's seven.  All of that translated into a game that saw 10 ties and 16 lead changes.
 
Neither team enjoyed a lead larger than five points in the first half.  The game rolled through 11 lead changes and reached its eighth tie when Aaron Abram hit a jumper to send the teams to the locker room deadlocked at 35.
 
Three-point plays from Deonte Jones and Kenny Rhymes highlighted a 10-2 Texas Wesleyan run to start the second half, but back-to-back three's from Tyler Davis and Cale Jackson got the Bison right back in the game.
 
After a basket from Isaiah Jay, Jackson drained two more triples to give the Bison a 49-47 advantage.  Rhymes answered with a three, but the Rams' lead was short-lived.  Abram later scored to tie the game at 57.  That was the start of a 13-2 run that left OBU in charge at 68-59.
 
A three from Jervon Hooks made it a two-possession game at 70-64 with two minutes to play.  Unfortunately, the Rams missed on their last four attempts from long range, and the Bison came away with a 72-67 win.
 
Turnovers and free throws proved to be the difference in the game.  The Bison turned 12 Texas Wesleyan turnovers into 16 points, while seven OBU miscues translated to just five points for the Rams.  Meanwhile free throws were at a premium, but the Bison hit 9-of-13 (69%) while the Rams hit just 5-of-12 (42%).
 
Deonte Jones led the Rams with 17 points.  Dallas Jones added 14, and Rhymes finished with 13 for the Rams.  Vernell Blackman added six points and 13 rebounds to the effort.
 
Abram posted 17 points and seven boards for the Bison.  Jackson finished with 16 points thanks to 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
The two teams will take three days to recover before battling again.  The Rams will host the Bison in the Sid Richardson Center at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.