SILOAM SPRINGS, AR: The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (15-10, 4-10 SAC) suffered an 83-78 loss in Sooner Athletic Conference action at John Brown University (15-11, 7-7 SAC) on Saturday.
The game was remarkably even statistically. Turnovers were even at 14-14 as were rebounds at 32-32. The Rams held a 40-27 edge in points in the paint, 11-6 in second chance points, 14-8 in fast break points, and 23-13 in bench points. Texas Wesleyan shot 50.8% from the field and 50% (10-for-20) from long range while the Eagles were 47.1% from the field and 48.3% (14-of-29) from three-point land.
The difference came at the free throw line where the Eagles attempted 29 shots and made 21 (72.4%) while the Rams were just 8-of-13 (61.5%)
The Rams jumped out to a 13-6 lead after a bucket from
Demarcus Richardson four and half minutes in. The lead swelled to 12 after a three from
Jerrell Ellis pushed the score to 30-18.
The Eagles came storming back with a 15-2 run capped by a three from Brady Griffin that gave JBU a 33-32 edge. The game was tied two more times before DJ Feitl closed the period with a three to give John Brown a 40-37 advantage at the intermission.
In the second half, neither team enjoyed a lead greater than seven points until JBU went on a 15-3 run that brought the game from its seventh tie at 63-63 to 78-66. The Eagles went 5-for-6 at the free throw line during that key run. The Rams scored the final five points of the game, but John Brown held on for the 83-78 win.
Sam Akano led all-scorers with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Ellis added 21 points, and
Merv Lindsay finished with 14.
John Brown was led by Max Hopfgartner's 22 points. Zach English scored 21, and Feitl added 18 for the Eagles.
The Rams will return to action on Thursday, when they host Southwestern Christian College in the Sid Richardson Center. That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- Akano has averaged 30.7 points per game in the last three game, while shooting 62.5% from the field and 66.7% from long range.
- The Rams are 1-3 all-time vs. John Brown and 5-0 vs. Southwestern Christian.
