FORT WORTH, TX:  In a game featuring each of the last two NAIA Division I National Champions, the Texas Wesleyan University Men's Basketball team (6-5, 1-3 SAC) suffered a 77-71 loss at the hands of No. 20 Mid-America Christian University (9-2, 4-0 SAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.
 
For the second consecutive game, Branden Jenkins and Rob Thomas both eclipsed 20 points; however, this time it was not enough as the Evangels bombed away with 14 three's.
 
The Rams struggled to find their shot in the first half, hitting just 33% from the field and 2-of-10 from long range.  Mid-America led 38-30 at the break, and Jordan Rhodes opened the second half with a three, giving the Evangels their largest lead of the game at 41-30.
 
A resilient Texas Wesleyan team righted the ship and chipped away at the margin while shooting 50% from the floor in the second half.
 
The Rams made it a one-possession game on four occasions, but the Evangels answered three of those instances with a triple.  Perhaps the biggest moment of the game came with 2:42 to play, when Sam Smith converted a three-point play to bring the score to 65-63.  MACU answered immediately with a three from Justin Bogle, and after the Rams missed on two long-range attempts, Javan Perry hit a three to push the advantage to eight points with just over a minute to play.
 
For the game, the Rams shot 40% from the field while the Evangels hit 43%.  Both teams shot well at the charity stripe where the Rams were 15-of-19 and the Evangels were 15-of-17.  MACU was +7 in the rebound column, but -3 in the turnover column.  The difference came beyond the arc where MACU hit 14-of-30 attempts (47%) and the Rams were just 8-of-26 (31%).
 
 
Jenkins filled the stat sheet with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Rob Thomas finished with 20 points, seven boards, six assists, and a steal.  Sam Smith contributed 18 points and six rebounds.
 
Six different Evangels reached double-figures in scoring, and six different Evangels hit at least one 3-pointer in the game.
 
The Rams will return to action on December 29, when they host Dillard University.  That game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.
 
Ramblings

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- MACU leads the all-time series with Texas Wesleyan 7-3.  The Rams are now 40-38 all-time in SAC play.
 
- Texas Wesleyan has faced back-to-back nationally ranked opponents in #7 USAO and #20 MACU.  Their next opponent, Dillard, was among those receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll.
 
- Texas Wesleyan is 5-1 all-time against Dillard.
 
- Branden Jenkins currently ranks 11th in the NAIA with 21.5 points per game.