FORT WORTH, TX: The 9th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (19-4, 10-2 SAC) avenged one of its four losses in a big way at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday. The Rams ripped Southwestern Christian University (11-10, 7-5 SAC) 97-78 in front of a raucous Homecoming crowd.
For 18 minutes it appeared the game would be close as the Eagles challenged the Rams as much as any team has in the last two weeks. The Eagles actually held the lead for 5:04 during the first half. In their previous eight games Texas Wesleyan opponents had led for a total of 7:19.
The lead changed hands eight times before
Dion Rogers tied the game with a conventional 3-point play and then gave the Rams a 34-32 lead with a quick jumper. From just over three minutes to play to just over one minute to play in the first half the Rams ripped off nine unanswered points, capped by back-to-back triples from Rogers to take command at 47-37. The Rams went on to lead 47-39 at the break.
The second half was all Texas Wesleyan. The Rams opened with an 8-2 run to lead 55-41. A jumper from
Sam Akano pushed the lead to 20-points at 69-49, and the margin swelled to 30 (93-63) after an offensive put-back from
Chris Gracela.
The Eagles shot 62% in the first half, but were held to a more modest 46% in the second half. The Rams were feeling it from beyond the arc. Texas Wesleyan actually shot better from 3-point range (53.6%, 15-28) than they did from the field (52.7%, 39-47).
Texas Wesleyan held an astounding +20 rebound margin (44-24) including 29-10 in the second half. The Rams also held big leads in 2nd-chance points (24-9) and bench scoring (46-19).
Rogers led all scorers with a career-high 25 points.
BJ Batts (16), Akano (15), and
Eric Stubbs (12) all came off the bench to produce double-figure scoring.
Trevon Jeffery added 12 points as well. Gracela finished with 5 points, 4 assists, and 15 rebounds (13 in the second half).
James Still led the Eagles with 19 points. Marvin White added 17 points for SCU.
The Rams return to the Sid Richardson Center on Thursday, when they host John Brown University. That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- During their current 9-game winning streak the Rams have trailed for a total of 12:23 while posting an average margin of victory of 19.2 points per game.
- Southwestern Christian had defeated the Rams 62-60 in Bethany, OK, earlier this season.
- The Rams lead the all-time series with SCU 6-2. Texas Wesleyan is now 2-2 against SCU Head Coach Dave Bliss. The Rams defeated Bliss' SMU squad 84-83 in December 1980 and then lost in overtime to the Mustangs in 1981.
- John Brown leads the all-time series with Texas Wesleyan 3-2.
