BETHANY, OK: The 9th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (19-5, 9-4 SAC) suffered an 83-71 loss at Southwestern Christian University (16-9, 8-5 SAC) on Thursday.
The Rams were cold in the first half, shooting just 35% from the floor. Meanwhile the Eagles outscored Texas Wesleyan by 10 (18-8) at the free throw line, and, while SCU was only +2 in the turnover column, they outscored the Rams 13-4 off of turnovers.
In the later stages of the first half, the Eagles went on an 18-3 run to take a 39-29 advantage with under a minute to play.
Dion Rogers drilled a three ahead of the halftime buzzer to cut the margin to seven at the intermission.
The Rams seemed to turn things around early in the second half. Rogers scored the first seven points of a 14-2 run that made it a 2-point ballgame at 52-50 with 13 minutes to play. However, SCU responded immediately and quickly stretched the lead to 65-54.
Texas Wesleyan got within two possessions a 67-63, but the Eagles had an answer once again as they pulled away for the 83-71 win.
Rogers finished with a game-high 22 points.
Trevon Jeffery turned in his seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while
Najeal Young just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Ryan Harris supplied 13 points off the TXWES bench.
SCU's Jamal Ray matched Rogers' 22-point effort. Marvin White added 18 for the Eagles.
The Rams will return to the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday. Homecoming festivities will highlight the night as Texas Wesleyan takes on the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma. The Lady Rams are scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. tip with the men's game to follow at 5:00 p.m.
Ramblings
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Trevon Jeffery is averaging just a tick under a double-double with 11.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
- Naiel smith continues to lead the nation with 186 assists and 8.1 assists per game.
- The Rams lead the all-time series with SCU 7-3. They are now 35-34 all-time in SAC play. Texas Wesleyan leads the all-time series with USAO 9-7.
- The Rams are 3-3 all-time against SCU head coach Dave Bliss. The Rams defeated Bliss' SMU squad 84-83 in 1980, then lost to the Mustangs in overtime in 1981.
- Texas Wesleyan is 12-2 at home and 7-3 on the road this season. The Rams have won 24 of their last 27 home games although they are coming off a 95-92 loss to MACU at the Sid Richardson Center last week.
- Thursday's loss trimmed Texas Wesleyan's lead atop the SAC standings to a single game. The Rams are now 9-4 in conference play, while Oklahoma City, SAGU, and SCU are all 8-5.
