FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (7-2, 1-0 SAC) took a thrilling 111-101 win over 10th ranked Mid-America Christian University (8-2, 0-1 SAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday. The game was the Sooner Athletic Conference opener for both squads.
MACU looked like the defending regular season SAC Champions and a top-10 team in the early going. The Evangels jumped ahead 30-19 and were on their way to a blowout. However, the Rams recovered and narrowed the gap to two possessions (30-26) after a three from
Jerell Ellis capped a quick 7-0 run.
MACU stretched the lead back to ten at 40-30, when a triple from
Doug Compton sparked the Rams. Texas Wesleyan came all the way back to tie the game at 51-51 with a three from
BJ Batts before Devonse Reed closed the half with a bucket for the Evangels.
The game reached its 9th tie score at 77-77 midway through the second half. Three's from Ellis and Batts highlighted a 10-2 run that left the Rams with their largest lead of the game at 92-81. MACU never got closer than 7 (103-96) for the remainder of the game.
With 2:33 to play, Ellis and Nick Tate got tangled up as they grappled for a loose ball. Both players were assessed Flagrant 2 fouls and were ejected from the game. Just over a minute later, tension in the stands broke into a scuffle that caused a delay of several minutes. Cooler heads prevailed in the final minutes, and the Rams were able to hold the Evangels at bay, 111-101.
Ellis led all scorers with a career-high 34 points on 9-of-19 shooting (6-of-12 from long range and 10-of-12 at the free throw line).
Dion Rogers added 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
BJ Batts finished with 18 points.
Trevon Jeffery added 12 points and 9 rebounds, and
Henry Buckley contributed 11 points and 7 boards.
MACU was led by Devonse Reed's 21 points. Bryon Miller added 20. Chris Runnells posted 18 points, and Tate exited the game with 15 points.
For the game, the Evangels outshot the Rams 58%-49% from the field. The Rams' long range attack came through with 11-of-26 3-point attempts (42.3%) while the Evangels hit 12-of-34 (35.3%). The Rams won the battle-of-the boards 43-32. Texas Wesleyan also got to the free throw line with regularity where they went 28-of-42 (67%) and the Evangels were 11-of-14 (79%).
MACU ran the fast break to the tune of a 30-11 advantage, but the Rams dominated in points off of turnovers (29-13), 2nd-chance points (17-6) and bench points (74-18).
The Rams will return to action on Tuesday, December 8, when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on Oklahoma City University in SAC action. That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start. Texas Wesleyan Student Life will be sponsoring a bus for that game. To sign up, students can click
here.
Ramblings
- Ellis' previous career-high was 33 points which he totaled in back-to-back games against St. Gregory's and Arlington Baptist last season.
- 111 points is Texas Wesleyan's highest total since a 116-84 win over the University of the Southwest on February 23, 2013. 212 points is the highest combined score in a Texas Wesleyan game since a 120-98 loss to Our Lady of the Lake on January 9, 2012. The team's record for points in a game is169 against Dallas Christian (1993-94) and combined points is 260 in a 152-108 loss at Houston (1965-66).
- The Rams currently have five players averaging double-figures in scoring on the season.
Jerell Ellis has taken the team lead at 18.4 ppg.
Chris Gracela dipped just under 10 ppg for the first time this season, now averaging 9.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
- This was Texas Wesleyan's first ever win over MACU. The Evangels lead the all-time series 4-1. The all-time series with Oklahoma City is tied 10-10. The Rams are now 13-26 all-time in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
