FORT WORTH, TX: The 9th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (19-6, 9-5 SAC) was defeated 86-80 in overtime by the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (13-12, 8-6 SAC) on Homecoming at the Sid Richardson Center Saturday evening.
The Rams turned in a solid night of free throw shooting, but missed critical foul shots late to let the Drovers escape with the win.
Texas Wesleyan was hot out of the gate, opening a 36-20 lead 12 minutes into the contest, but the Drover defense was able to find the shutoff valve. To that point of the game, the Rams were shooting 57% (13-23) from the floor and 57% (8-14) from long range. For the remainder of the game, Texas Wesleyan shot just 23% (15-64) from the floor and 6% (1-17) from beyond the arc.
USAO came all the way back and snared a 39-38 edge with a Brian Robinson three-pointer with 24 seconds to play.
Najeal Young converted conventional three-point play with four seconds left to send the Rams to the half nursing a 41-39 lead.
The game remained within two possessions for nearly all of the second half. The Rams led 71-67 when USAO's Imani Edwards hit a three with three minutes to play.
Dion Rogers immediately answered with a bucket, but Julius Foster cut it to 73-72 with a jumper in the lane. Again, Rogers had an answer as he drew a foul and knocked down two free throws.
Entering the final minute of regulation the nation's leading scorer, Taran Buie, nailed a three to tie the game at 75. On the Rams' ensuing possession, Texas Wesleyan came away with three offensive rebounds before finally drawing another foul with 3.9 seconds to play. Unfortunately the Rams missed two free throws and had to survive a buzzer-beating three from Buie to reach overtime.
Edwards started the overtime period with an and-one and the Rams were never able to regain the lead. A three-point play from Young brought the score to 82-80 with 52 seconds on the clock, but that proved to be Texas Wesleyan's final bucket.
For the game, the Rams shot 32% from the field while USAO hit at 39%. The Rams started well at the free throw line and finished at 68% (15-22) while the Drovers got to the line 34 times and hit 71% (24-34). Texas Wesleyan was +4 in the rebound column, but committed 17 turnovers.
Rogers had the hot hand for Texas Wesleyan with a game-high 32 points (one off of his career-high). Young posted a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds.
Jeremy Crane added 15 points (all in the first half).
Buie finished with 29 points leading five Drovers in double-figure scoring. Greg Smith had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Rams will play their final two home games next week. They will take on St. Gregory's at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. Saturday's 3:00 p.m. start against Wayland Baptist will feature Senior Day festivities.
Ramblings
- Buie entered the game averaging 27 points per game on the season and 33 per game in his last three contests.
- Rogers is averaging 20 points per game and has eclipsed 30 points four times this season.
- The Rams lead the all-time series with USAO 9-8, while the moved to 35-35 all-time in SAC play. Texas Wesleyan leads the all-time series with their next opponent, St. Gregory's, 8-4.
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Naiel Smith leads the nation with 193 assists (8.04/game).
- Saturday's loss was Texas Wesleyan's second consecutive defeat at home. The Rams have won 24 of their last 28 home games and had not lost back-to-back games in the SRC since February 2015.
- The loss dropped the Rams into a three-way tie for 1st-place in the SAC. Texas Wesleyan, Oklahoma City, and Southwestern Assemblies of God all hold a league record of 9-5.
