PLAINVIEW, TX: The 12th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (12-1, 2-1 SAC) suffered its first loss of the season in a Sooner Athletic Conference contest at No. 15 Wayland Baptist University (13-1, 2-1 SAC) on Thursday. The Pioneers ran away with a 105-68 win over the Rams.
Wayland scored the first 16 points of the game before a basket from
Mario Monroe finally broke the silence 4:27 into the game. The Rams came around and closed the gap to just five points (36-31) with a 9-2 run capped off by a three from
Chris Gracela and a jumper from
Jerrell Ellis. However, the Pioneers ripped off a 9-0 run in the last 44 seconds of the first half to lead 45-31 at the intermission.
The Rams shot just 39% from the field in the first half while allowing the Pioneers a 43% clip. Meanwhile the Rams got to the free throw line just four times and made only one, while the Pioneers went 7-of-8 at the line.
In the second half, the Pioneers dominated the glass, ratcheted up the defense, and never allowed the Rams back in the game. WBU's Ta'Quan McDew poured in 22 points in the period, while Wayland led 31-20 on the boards and ran the fast break to a 21-4 advantage. A normally reliable three-point shooting team, the Rams hit just 1-of-12 long range attempts in the second half and could gain no ground.
The Rams, who entered the game with a season rebounding margin of +11.7 were outrebounded 55-39. The Pioneers shot 47% (50% in the second half) from the floor while allowing the Rams just 36%.
Head coach
Brennen Shingleton was not pleased with the effort, "I'm terribly disappointed with our approach this week," Shingleton said. "We didn't have the focus or the effort to win tonight. Wayland Baptist played a great game and really exposed us. This was an eye opener, and the good thing is we get to come back to work tomorrow and try to get this straight. We don't have much time, but the leadership of our team will get this right."
Ellis led four Rams in double-figure scoring with 18 points. Gracela had 12,
Sam Akano 11, and
Seandre Sadler 10.
McDew led all scorers with 24 points. Royal Crouch added 22 points for the Pioneers, while Hristov Palmen scored 19 and Robert Waters 10.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, when they host Oklahoma Baptist University. That game is scheduled for an 5:00 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.
Ramblings
- This was the first time this season that the Rams allowed 100 or more points. That occurred three times last season. 105 points were the most allowed by the Rams since a 106-104 loss to Northwood in February of last season.
- The Rams are 10-19 all-time in Sooner Athletic Conference play, 18-19 vs. Wayland Baptist, and 6-9 vs. Oklahoma Baptist.
- Thursday's game reduced the Rams' rebounding margin to +9.6 and their scoring margin to +11.8 this season.
