HOUSTON, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (9-3) blasted past the University of St. Thomas-Houston (6-5) with an 86-74 win at the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center on Saturday.
 
The Wesleyan Rams entered the contest shooting 44 percent from the field while out-rebounding their opponent by 10 points per game. Their counterpart is shooting 43 percent from the field.
 
Henry Buckly opened up scoring with a bucket in the paint and Jerrell Ellis got to the line for a 4-0 lead. The Celts drained two three pointers in the next two possessions to take a 6-4 lead, trying to defend home court.
 
The Rams matched shot for shot with the Celts as Ellis nailed a shot from behind the arc to tie the game at 11-11 five minutes into the game. The Celts held on to a slight edge until BJ Batts started an 8-0 rally with a triple capped by an Ellis three-pointer to take a 29-23 advantage with eight minutes to go in the half.
 
The Celts kept cutting the lead, but a steady rain of three-pointers by Texas Wesleyan kept the road team with the lead. St. Thomas finally took a 41-39 lead on a Craig Grigsby three-point play with 40 second remaining in the first half. Trevon Jeffery squashed that with a 4-0 run to end the half and take a 43-41 at the break.
 
Chris Gracela ran the floor after a steal and put in a layup to open the second half. Jeffery found the bottom of the net again to make it a 53-44 lead. Sam Akano got in on the action and went back to back with buckets to give the Rams a 57-46 lead.
 
Wesleyan extended the lead with a 7-0 run capped by a Batts two-pointer to make it 71-55. Akano made it a 19-point game with a runner in the lane to make it 81-62. The Rams kept the Celts in check the rest of the way to take the win.
 
St. Thomas shot 46 percent from the field for the game, but were held to only 33 percent from the field in the second half. TWU shot 52 percent from the floor for the game and held the rebound advantage, 29-25.
 
Ellis led the Rams with 17 points. Dion Rogers posted 10 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Jeffery had 14 points, four boards, three assists, and a pair of steals. Akano notched 14 points. Buckley posted 12 points and five boards.
 
Texas Wesleyan will look to make it three consecutive wins with a game against the University of Science and Arts on Thursday, January 7 starting at 8:00 pm at the Sid Richardson Center.
 Ramblings

-TWU ranks fourth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 16.364.

-The Rams also rank eighth in NAIA DI in total rebound margin at 9.909 and ninth in total rebounds per game at 45.

-The Rams hold the all-time record at 6-4 and have one the last two meetings.