HAWKINS, TX: The top-ranked Texas Wesleyan University Men's Basketball team (2-1) rolled to a 79-67 win at Jarvis Christian College (1-2) on Thursday.
The Rams put six players in double-figure scoring and shot a cool 49% from the floor as the issue was never in doubt.
After the game reached its fifth tie score at 19-19, the Rams got rolling. A layup from
Dare Brazeal sparked a 16-2 run that featured back-to-back triples from
Jeremy Crane and
Branden Jenkins and left the Rams in command at 35-21.
The Bulldogs were able to cut into the gap in the closing seconds of the half. Chris Adams knocked down a three that brought the lead back to single digits at 40-32. The Rams were playing for a final shot, but a turnover followed by a fast break three from Chasten King sent the Rams to the locker room with a slender 40-35 advantage.
Midway through the second half,
Curtiss Anderson got to work in the lane. Anderson pitched in five points, a block, and a rebound during an 11-4 run. A fast break three from Crane restored a double-figure lead at 62-52, and a layup from
Rob Thomas capped the run and left the score at 64-52.
The Rams went on to lead by as many as 18 (79-61) on their way to the 79-67 victory.
Crane hit 4-of-10 long range shots and led the Rams with 18 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
Branden Jenkins added 14 points, six boards, and eight assists.
Rob Thomas finished with 13 points. Anderson and
Sam Smith each scored 11 points, and
Dare Brazeal finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Rams shot 49.1% (27-55) from the floor and 45.5% (10-22) from long range while holding the Bulldogs to 36.9% (24-65) from the floor and just 19.4% (7-36) from three.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, when they welcome the Rams of Huston-Tillotson University to the Sid Richardson Center. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Ramblings
- The Rams lead the all-time series with Jarvis Christian, a former running mate in the Red River Athletic Conference, 20-13.
- Texas Wesleyan has dominated the battle-of-Rams, leading the all-time series with Huston-Tillotson, another RRAC foe, 23-5.
