PLAINVIEW, TX: The top-ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (5-3, 0-1 SAC) suffered a 90-61 loss at Wayland Baptist University (8-1, 1-0 SAC) in their Sooner Athletic Conference Opener on Thursday.
The Rams, who were playing without the aid of their top scorer,
Branden Jenkins, had a tough shooting night. Texas Wesleyan shot just 22% from the floor in the first half, while WBU shot 56% and ran up a 52-20 advantage at halftime.
The Rams turned things around in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 41-38, but the damage had been done.
Texas Wesleyan finished at 31% from the field and 30% (8-25) from three-point range while Wayland Baptist hit at a 53% clip including 51% (18-35) from long range.
With Jenkins unavailable,
Jeremy Crane carried the offensive load, leading all scorers with 22 points while taking 20 of Texas Wesleyan's 52 shot-attempts.
Mike Wolfe added 10 points and six rebounds
Josh Throns led the Pioneers with 21 points and five assists. Tyron Davis (16), Ruben Lopez (15) and Tre Fillmore (11) all reached double-figures in scoring as well.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Goodwell, OK, to take on Oklahoma Panhandle State University. That game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- Jenkins was unavailable after being called for two technical fouls in Texas Wesleyan's previous game against Jarvis Christian College.
- Crane's 22 points was a season-high and his highest scoring output since pouring in 31 while hitting a school record nine 3-pointers against Bethel on New Year's Eve last season.
- Wayland Baptist leads the all-time series with Texas Wesleyan 23-20.
- The Rams, who have won back-to-back SAC Regular Season Championships, are now 39-36 all-time in SAC play.
- Oklahoma Panhandle State, formerly an NCAA Division II program, is a newcomer to the SAC and the NAIA. Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two programs.
