FORT WORTH, TX: The 18th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team matched the second best start in school history at 11-0 with a resounding 92-65 win over Southwestern Adventist University at the Sid Richardson Center on Wednesday.
The 11-0 start matched that of the 2010-11 team. The 1940-41 team began the season with a school record winning streak of 19-0.
The Rams did not allow the Knights to score for the first five and a half minutes. After the drought was ended by a layup from JaColby Hardin-Crawford, the Rams did not allow another basket for seven more minutes. When the smoke cleared, the Rams led 24-2 with 8:43 to play in the first half.
Texas Wesleyan allowed SWAU to shoot just 19.4% (6-31) in the first half on their way to a 41-16 lead at the break.
The Knights hit nine three's in the second half, but could gain no ground. The lead swelled to as many as 32 points as the Rams breezed to an easy 92-65 win.
For the game, the Rams outshot the Knights 49% - 38% from the floor, while hitting 20-of-24 free throws (83%). The Rams dominated the glass 51-26.
Chris Gracela led the Rams with 23 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists.
Merv Lindsay added 20 points and 13 boards.
Sam Akano finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while
Mario Monroe contributed 10 points and six rebounds.
SWAU was led by Hardin-Crawford's 35 points on 13-of-31 shooting and 8-of-15 from long range.
The Rams will return to action on Thursday, December 18, when they travel to Shreveport, LA, to take on 12th ranked LSU-Shreveport. That game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- Texas Wesleyan's rebounding margin of +14 this season ranks second nationally behind Philander Smith's 15.89.
- The Rams are 7-0 all-time vs. SWAU and 13-9 against LSU-Shreveport. The last meeting with LSUS resulted in an 86-84 win for the Rams last season.
