FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University (15-14, 4-14 SAC) and Southwestern Assemblies of God University (21-9, 11-7 SAC) men's basketball teams braved the weather to play their season finale in the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.  As is usually the case, this Metroplex rivalry did not disappoint.  The game saw 11 ties and 14 lead changes before SAGU prevailed 87-79.
 
Texas Wesleyan has owned the rivalry to the tune of 23 wins in 32 meetings; however, the Lions have made a statement lately with seven consecutive wins.  In those last seven games, the average margin of victory has been just over four points per game.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, the Rams honored three seniors who were playing their final home game.  Seandre Sadler, Mario Monroe, and Hasani Sumbry each played two seasons for the Rams and made outstanding contributions to the basketball program.
 
The Rams were red hot to start the game.  SAGU's zone did little to slow the Rams who hit at a 75% clip (18-24) in the first half.  The effort was keyed by freshman Teyvon Lundy who poured in a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting including 4-of-5 from long range.
 
The highlight of the game came with two minutes to play in the first half. The Rams had led by as many as 12, 27-15, only to see the Lions close to within two points at 38-36.  With 2:15 to play, the Rams led 45-39, but Lundy knifed through the lane for a layup and then came up with a terrific hustle steal, diving to tip a loose ball ahead to Sam Akano who pushed the lead back to ten points with a thunder slam on the other end.
 
The 24th ranked Lions came back and scored five points in the final 40 seconds of the half to bring the score to 49-44 at the intermission.
 
After missing only six shots in the entire first half, the Rams started the second half cold at 2-for-9 from the field.  That allowed SAGU to tie the game at 57-57 with a three from Rashaad Alexander and then take the lead with a steal from Alexander and a jumper from Jonathan Walter.
 
From there the game rolled through seven more ties and seven lead changes.  The teams matched each other big shot for big shot.  A three from Akano followed by an offensive put-back from Sadler gave the Rams a 76-73 lead with 5:01 to play.  Emmanuel Adoyi promptly tied the game with a three, but Sadler hit one-of-two at the line to give the Rams a 77-76 advantage.
 
From that point, the Lions went on an 11-2 run to close the game.  With 3:36 to play, Jason Gentry hit two free throws to put SAGU back ahead.  After a Texas Wesleyan miss, Adoyi scored to give the Lions some breathing room at 80-77.
 
After the lights out first half, the Rams were just 34% in the second half.  Still Texas Wesleyan led 51.8%-46.6% in shooting for the game.  The Lions hit 13 three's to the Rams' 12.  Texas Wesleyan led 32-29 on the boards, but the Lions forced 16 turnovers while committing only 12.  The Lions saved themselves at the free throw line where they were an outstanding 20-of-21 and did not miss a shot until their very last attempt with 24 seconds to play and the game already decided.
 
Akano led the Rams with 26 points while hitting 6-of-10 long range attempts.  Akano added six rebounds and six assists.  Lundy went scoreless in the second half, but still had a career-high 14 points, six assists, and three steals.  Jerrell Ellis notched 11 points in the loss.
 
Jonathan Walter matched Akano shot for shot.  Walter posted a nearly identical line with 26 points, including 6-of-10 from long range, to go with six assists and two rebounds.  That paced five Lions in double-figure scoring.  Jason Gentry scored 17, Richaad Alexander 16, Emmanuel Adoyi 14, and Marcus Price 10 in the winning effort.
 
The Rams will open play in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday.  They will likely face USAO in the first round although seeding has not been set.  The tournament is being hosted by Oklahoma City University March 4-7.
 
Ramblings

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- Akano finished the regular season at 20.4 points per game.  No Ram has averaged better than 20 points in a season since Eric Frederick's record 25.4 per game in the 2011-12 season.
 
- The Rams are now 23-9 all-time vs. SAGU.  They are 6-5 vs. USAO and 12-26 all-time in SAC play.
 
- Lundy's previous scoring high was 13 points against USAO.  He also scored 12 points on 4-of-4 long range shooting against Dillard University.
 
- Mid-America Christian will be the top seed in the SAC Tournament.  The Evangels won their first SAC regular season title at 14-4 in league play.