Box Score
FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (7-5, 1-2 SAC) took a thrilling 99-91 win in overtime against seventh ranked John Brown University (11-1, 1-2 SAC) in the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.
 
The win marked the first Sooner Athletic Conference victory for the Rams who joined the conference this season after 11 years in the Red River Athletic Conference.
 
The Rams threw the first punch against the highly-touted Eagles, racing out to an 18-8 advantage.  However, the Eagles did not allow the Rams to get away.  Late in the first half, JBU got a three from Max Hopfgartner, a traditional three-point play from Kofi Josephs, and a three from Josephs in succession to take their first lead of the game at 32-30.  JBU then closed the half on an 8-0 run to lead 40-32 at the intermission.
 
A pair of slams from Vernell Blackman brought Ram fans to their feat in the second half, but JBU continued to lead 64-49 midway through the period.  With just over five minutes to play, Jazz Holman fed Dallas Jones for a three-pointer and then converted a layup to cap a 17-4 run that cut the deficit to a single point at 69-68.
 
With 2:25 on the clock Jorge Redmon knocked down a triple that tied the game at 78.  On the ensuing JBU possession the Rams looked to be in trouble when Josephs hit a three, was fouled, and completed a four-point play at the free throw line.  However, Kenny Rhymes came right back with a three-pointer and the Rams remained in the game at 82-81.
 
In the final minute of regulation, Redmon came up with a steal and Deonte Jones buried a three to give the Rams their first lead since the score read 30-29 with 5:30 in the first half.  Zach English hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 84 with 21 seconds to go.  The Rams played for the final shot, but Jones' three rimmed out and the game rolled into overtime.
 
Rhymes set the tone in the overtime period with a three on the opening possession.  The Rams went on to outscore JBU 15-7 in the extra period.
 
For the game, the Rams outshot the Eagles 54-51% from the field, 44-41% from three-point range, and 90-76% at the free throw line.  JBU was granted 25 foul shots to Texas Wesleyan's 11, but the Rams countered by making 10 of their attempts at the line.  Texas Wesleyan also led 36-29 in rebounds and 24-0 in bench points.
 
Head coach Brennen Shingleton was proud of his team's effort.  "John Brown is a tough very well coached team and we learned a lot about our team today.  I have pressed really hard in practice since the break, and our guys are starting to understand how tough this league is.  We will enjoy this win and look forward to getting back to work to building off of a good game."
 
Redmon led four Rams in double-figure scoring with a season-high 28 points to go with five rebounds and six assists.  Rhymes added 18 points and seven boards.  Holman and Dallas Jones finished with 14 and 11 points respectively.
 
Josephs led all scorers with 33 points.  Hopfgartner notched a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Saturday's win also marked the second time this season that the Rams have defeated a top-10 team in the Sid Richardson Center.  They will try to make it three top-ten teams on Thursday, when they host third ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University.  That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start.