FORT WORTH, TX:  Saturday's men's basketball game pitting 12th ranked Texas Wesleyan University (12-1, 2-1 SAC) against 8th ranked Oklahoma Baptist (13-2, 2-1 SAC) has been dubbed the NAIA Game of the Week.  The game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start in Texas Wesleyan's Sid Richardson Center.
 
This is the first edition of the NAIA Game of the Week this season.  Texas Wesleyan will be providing Live Video and Audio via Stretch Internet as well as Live Stats of the contest.
 
Game Notes (Provided by Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Communications as well as TWU and OBU Sports Information)
 
• Two teams fighting for early-season supremacy in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) will do battle as No. 12 Texas Wesleyan hosts No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.
• With just three games played in the SAC regular-season slate, seven teams are tied for the No. 1 position in the standings at 2-1. Both Oklahoma Baptist and the Rams are 2-1.
• A relative newcomer to the SAC, Texas Wesleyan entered the league starting with the 2013-14 campaign. The Rams went 15-16 overall and 8-12 in the conference last year. Prior to their existence in the Sooner Athletic Conference, Texas Wesleyan was a power in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC), winning four-straight RRAC championships from 2008-11.
• In the all-time series, Oklahoma Baptist holds a 9-6 all-time advantage. In the last meeting on March 5, 2014, Oklahoma Baptist handled the Rams by a 103-76 count. Last year's three match-ups were the first since the 2010 NAIA Division I National Championship Second Round.
• The Rams had their 12-game win streak snapped in their most recent outing on Thursday, 105-68, against No. 15 Wayland Baptist (Texas). The Rams, who entered the game with a season rebounding margin of +11.7, were outrebounded 55-39. Texas Wesleyan was the most recent team to fall from the undefeated ranks.
• Texas Wesleyan ranks in the NAIA top 10 in rebounding – rebounding margin (eighth; +9.5) and total rebounding (ninth; 43.4).
• Chris Gracela, who stands 32nd in the nation in total rebounding (7.7), is fourth on the Texas Wesleyan team with 9.6 points. Sam Akano is the scoring leader with 19.1 points and ads 6.4 rebounds.
• Oklahoma Baptist won its fourth-straight contest with a 75-64 victory over Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on Thursday. The Bison have now won by a 10-plus margin in three of their last four contests.
• Oklahoma Baptist has used success at the free throw line to its advantage. Ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in free throw accuracy (.786), the Bison make more free throws (298) than their opponents attempt (271).
• Individually, Ty Allen leads four Bison in double-figure scoring with 20.3 points per game. He has reached at least 10 points in all 12 games. Aaron Abram is first on the team in rebounding (8.1) and second in scoring (18.5).
 
Additional Notes from Around NAIA Division I Men's Basketball
(Through games played on Jan. 8, 2015)
• For complete information around NAIA Division I Men's Basketball, click HERE.
• Hope International (Calif.) is the lone undefeated team remaining in NAIA Division I basketball with a 14-0 record. The Royals, who rank No. 1 in the NAIA in both scoring defense per game (54.6) and field goal percentage defense (.353), face Biola (Calif.) on Saturday.
• Cal State San Marcos claims the most victories in the NAIA with an 18-2 record. Campbellsville (Ky.) is next with 17 wins.
• One team is still searching for its first victory on the year.
• Coach Willie Holley at Mid-America Christian (Okla.) is nearing the 800-win plateau. The 42-year general will become just the second active NAIA Division I coach to reach that milestone. Currently, he has accrued 797 wins as his team is 9-6 (through Jan. 8).
• With less than 10 wins to the 700-win threshold, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) head coach Rocky Lamar is at 694 wins. His team stands 3-10 thus far (through Jan. 8). Currently, Lamar is No. 3 on the active wins list.
• Head coach John Moore of Westmont (Calif.) became the eighth member of the 500-win club on the active list after his Warriors defeated Menlo (Calif.) on Nov. 28, 87-69. Moore is currently in his 27th season.
• In early September, Faulkner head coach Jim Sanderson announced his retirement. He posted a record of 481-297 in 24 years. He entered the 2014-15 season ranked No. 10 on the active wins list. His 2001 team won the University's first-ever NAIA National Championship in any sport.
• From Jan. 18 - 24, the 12th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week will take place to raise awareness about the fight against cancer. Both divisions of NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches will continue to conduct a national effort of fund raising for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and American Cancer Society. This year, the American Cancer Society released statistics that reveal a 22% decline in the mortality rate due to cancer! Follow CoachesvsCancer on Facebook and @CoachesvsCancer on Twitter and leverage your social media channels using the hashtag #SuitsAndSneakers to share your school and coach's participation in Suits And Sneakers. For more information, click here.
 
• Top 25 matchups this week:
o Monday – (5) Talladega (Ala.) def. (24) Xavier (La.), 93-78
o Tuesday – (17) Arizona Christian def. (9) Concordia (Calif.), 82-65
o Wednesday – (17) Arizona Christian def. (9) Concordia (Calif.), 82-65
o Thursday – (10) Montana Western def. (18) Rocky Mountain (Mont.), 74-71
o Thursday – (15) Wayland Baptist (Texas) def. (12) Texas Wesleyan, 105-68
o Saturday – (8) Oklahoma Baptist @ (12) Texas Wesleyan
o Saturday – (25) SAGU (Texas) @ (15) Wayland Baptist (Texas)
o Saturday – (16) Philander Smith (Ark.) @ (24) Xavier (La.)