NOTE: On Nov. 17, a bookkeeping error was corrected, awarding the Rams a made free throw and changing the final score to 79-77.
MARSHALL, TX: The top-ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (4-1) survived a late run from Wiley College (3-1) to earn a 78-77 win on Tuesday.
The Rams led 21-15 midway through the first half when the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to take their first of only two leads in the ballgame at 22-21.
Sam Smith ended the drought with a three to put the Rams back on top, and Texas Wesleyan went on to lead 37-32 at the half.
The Rams started the second half with a three from
Branden Jenkins and a bucket from
Curtiss Anderson to extend the lead to double-figures at 42-32.
The lead held at 11 (53-52) midway through the period when Wiley began to chip away, and finally made things tight in the closing moments.
With just over two minutes to play, Traylin Prejean scored in the lane to pull the Wildcats within one at 72-71. A generous continuation call gave Prejean a chance to tie the game at the free throw line. His attempt missed and Jenkins hit two at the line for Texas Wesleyan to bring the score to 74-71.
The teams went back-and-forth until Wiley's Joshua Hamilton scored to give his team their second lead of the game at 77-76 lead with 11 seconds to play.
With nine ticks on the clock
Curtiss Anderson stepped to the free throw line and knocked down two clutch free throws. Wiley brought the ball down with a shot at the win, but a block from
Dare Brazeal left the Wildcats with a desperation three that was off the mark.
The Rams shot a much higher percentage than the Wildcats, but 22 turnovers allowed Wiley to take 26 more shots in the game. Texas Wesleyan shot 51% (23-45) from the floor and a very efficient 9-of-15 (60%) from long range while holding the Wildcats to 42% (30-71) from the floor and 21% (6-of-19) from beyond the arc. The Rams also shot 88% (23-26) at the free throw line while Wiley was 11-of-19 (58%).
Branden Jenkins poured in a season-high 30 points after hitting 15-of-16 at the free throw line. Anderson was one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards.
Sam Smith had a perfect shooting night (4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from three) to post 10 points.
Wiley's Anthony Sharp and Herbert Atkins each scored 16 points in the loss, while Joshua Hamilton finished with 14 points.
The Rams will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when they travel to Shreveport, LA, for a rematch with No. 11 LSU-Shreveport.
Ramblings
- Texas Wesleyan extended its lead in the all-time series with Wiley to 26-11.
- The Rams are in the midst of a 6-game stretch against teams from their former conference, the Red River Athletic Conference. They are 3-1 in that stretch with games against LSU-Shreveport and Jarvis Christian remaining.
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Branden Jenkins posted the team's first 30-point effort of the young season. Jenkins is averaging 22 points per game in his first five games as a Ram.
- LSU-Shreveport walloped the Rams 102-80 in the Sid Richardson Center in the second game of the season. The Rams hold a 14-10 lead over the Pilots all-time.
