Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (15-13, 8-10 SAC) suffered an 85-78 loss on Senior Day at the Sid Richardson Center at the hands of Oklahoma City University (16-9, 12-6 SAC).
 
Prior to the game, the Rams honored eight seniors who were playing in their final regular season home game.  The 2013-14 Rams feature only five players who are not seniors.  Deonte Jones, a senior from Charleston, MO, also delighted the crowd by singing the national anthem.  Jones is one of 16 national finalists for College Slam's Dark Horse Dunker.  Fans have three more days to Vote Deonte.  You can place your vote by clicking here.
 
The game held good news and bad news for Ram fans.  The good news: Texas Wesleyan got to the free throw line 32 times.  The bad news: they struggled mightily once they got there.
 
RJ McGhee scored 11 of OCU's first 17 points as the Stars raced out to a 17-9 lead.  The lead swelled to as many as 12 at 23-11, and the Stars led 46-36 at the half.
 
Texas Wesleyan started the second half on a 10-5 run to close to 51-46, but OCU stretched the margin back to double-figures (58-48) after a three-point play from Terry Johnson.
 
The Rams closed the gap to five points once again at 61-56, but again the Stars had an answer, this time with a 9-0 run.  Texas Wesleyan had plenty of chances to score with the clock stopped, but managed just 6-of-20 at the free throw line in the second half.
 
For the game, the Stars outshot the Rams 46%-42% from the field.  Texas Wesleyan shot 46% from three-point range (10-for-22), while the Stars were just 8-of-20 (40%).  The Rams held a 22-11 edge in fast break points, while OCU led 36-24 in the paint and 44-39 in rebounding.  The difference in the game came at the free throw line, where OCU went 21-for-25 (84%) and the Rams were just 12-for-32 (37.5%).
 
"It is awfully hard to beat anyone when you shoot 37% from the free throw line," commented head coach Brennen Shingleton.  "Sometimes we can't seem to get out of our own way, but thankfully we have the components of a good team and that can salvage something out of this season.  Our leadership in the locker room will step up and get us back on track."
 
Jorge Redmon led the Rams with 21 points.  Dallas Jones added 18, and Deonte Jones finished with 15.
 
McGhee led all scorers with 31 points to go with nine rebounds.  Jamaal Crayton contributed 14 points for OCU while Johnson finished with 12.
 
The Rams have two regular season games remaining.  They will return to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Chickasha, OK, to take on the University of Science & Arts (OK).  That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start.