AUSTIN, TX: In a battle of Rams, the 20th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (3-0) survived a late push and took a 59-56 win at Huston-Tillotson University (0-1) Tuesday evening.
Texas Wesleyan was slow out of the gate against an HTU team playing its season opener. A layup from
Naiel Smith tied the game 20-20 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. HTU then went on a 12-2 run capped by a layup from Malcom Ballard to take the largest lead of the night at 32-22.
Huston-Tillotson took a 34-28 lead into the locker room after scoring fully 23 points directly off of 19 Texas Wesleyan turnovers.
The Rams came out hot in the second half.
Najeal Young missed the second of two free throws, but
Peyton Prudhomme grabbed the offensive board and Young laid the ball in.
Dion Rogers then scored a layup, and, on the next possession, converted three free throws to put Texas Wesleyan in the lead 36-34.
The game remained a one-possession contest until a dunk from Young sparked a run of six unanswered points that left Texas Wesleyan with its largest lead of the night at 54-45.
Huston-Tillotson clawed back, and a triple from Jermaine Dotston made it a two-point game (57-55) entering the final minute. After a Texas Wesleyan turnover, Joseph Williams went to the line with a chance to tie the game, but missed the first before making the second.
Jeremy Crane converted two free throws to push the score to 59-56 with 17 seconds remaining. Dotson got off a three-point attempt that would have sent the game to overtime. However, his shot was off the mark, and Texas Wesleyan came away with the victory.
Texas Wesleyan shot 43% from the field in the game, while Huston-Tillotson was held to 38.3%. TXWES held a slim rebounding margin at 35-32. Texas Wesleyan turned the ball over 30 times while forcing 29 HTU turnovers.
The Rams were led by Young's 15 points and 8 rebounds. Smith added 12 points and six assists.
Ryan Harris finished with nine points, while
Trevon Jeffery contributed eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
HTU's Malcom Ballard led all scorers with 21 points. Dotson finished with 10 in the losing effort.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to New Orleans, LA, to take on Dillard University. That game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- The Rams are now 22-5 all-time against Huston-Tillotson
- The Rams will spend the weekend in New Orleans, taking on Dillard on Saturday and Southern University at New Orleans on Monday. Texas Wesleyan leads the all-time series with Dillard 4-1. They have never faced SUNO on the basketball court.
