FORT WORTH - Saturday afternoon at the Sid Richardson Center, the Wiley Wildcats (3-0) got the better of Texas Wesleyan (3-2), 87-78. Wiley made 52.5% of its shots.

Looking at the numbers from the weekend matinee, Texas Wesleyan was right there with the pesky Wildcats, who also managed to win in the Rams' building in 2016. Texas Wesleyan beat them in their gym last year, 79-77. Texas Wesleyan shot 53.6% (30-of-56), including 9-of-11 buckets through for Julian Torres, who had 18 points in 16 minutes, dealing with foul trouble much of the day, and 8-of-11 made baskets from Diing Lwal Diing's 16 points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Rams out-rebounded Wiley 32-28 and moved the ball better than the Wildcats - an 18-8 advantage in assists, including six from Rob Thomas, who coupled his distribution with just one turnover.

Wiley built a 60-45 lead before Texas Wesleyan began their push back. The Rams got as close as eight points (65-57, 7:36 to play) with three free throws from Sam Lorenzen and then again with 0:52 left, but the Wildcats had an answer for just about everything in the second half, at one point hitting four-straight shots between the 5:09 and 3:15 mark, which helped push the advantage back to 14., 78-64.

Thomas had 12 points and five rebounds to go along with the six assists. Juwan Jones chipped in 10 points while Lorenzen and Joe Cook-Green added seven apiece.

Turnovers were the biggest issue Saturday, with Texas Wesleyan committing 20 despite forcing 16 of their own. Points off turnovers - advantage Wiley (24-18). The Rams still command the all-time series, winning 26 of 38 meetings.

WHAT'S NEXT
Texas Wesleyan continues its tour of Texas at the Sid Richardson Center when Texas College comes to town Monday night at 7 p.m. The Rams will host Our Lady of the Lake Saturday and travel to Shreveport for a rematch with the LSU-Shreveport Pilots prior to Thanksgiving when the team will get eight days off before Sooner Athletic Conference play begins November 29.