FORT WORTH – The Texas Wesleyan Rams (8-8, 3-5 SAC) got a critical win in conference Thursday night – 73-67 over Central Christian (8-6, 2-5 SAC) and got plenty of help elsewhere to tighten the conference standings.
 
After surrendering an 85-80 advantage down the stretch Tuesday night, the Rams held to a 67-63 lead and expanded on it as time grew short. After trailing 38-33 at the half, Texas Wesleyan outscored Central Christian 40-29 in the final 20 minutes.
 
Three players had banner nights for the Rams: Sam Lorenzen, Diing Lwal Diing and Peyton Sallee.
 
DIING LWAL DIING
The post presence was an extreme problem for the Tigers at the Sid Richardson Center. Diing constantly made an impact with 17 points, 11 rebounds (season high), four blocks (season high) in 35 minutes (season high) – this following up an 18-point outing Tuesday (season high). Diing is playing his best basketball and played his very best in the final three minutes.
 
Up 64-63, Central Christian's Jubril Osagie drove inside – Diing block – which led to a Lorenzen three. Next trip down the floor, Osagie took it at Diing again – blocked again. The Tigers would score on the possession but Diing would counter with a bucket of his own, assisted by Rob Thomas. Up 71-65 with 1:04 to play, the Tigers' TJ Williams tries his luck – blocked by Diing.
 
PEYTON SALLEE
The freshman was everywhere. He hit five-straight shots – from a runner with 13:21 to go in the first half (15-13 Tiger lead) to a trey with 0:45 to play in the first 20 (a 38-33 Tiger lead). The Rams actually had very few advantages early: 8-7, 11-10, 20-19, 39-38. The latter was thanks to a Sallee three which began to set the tone for the second half.
 
Sallee earned an and-1 with 8:26 to play, putting the Rams in front 56-54. This immediately after a four-pont play from the Tigers' Osagie. Sallee helped the Rams take the lead for a third time with 4:06 remaining – 64-63.
 
Sallee finished with season highs in points (22), minutes (34), field goals made and attempted (8-of-16), threes made and attempted (5-of-11), rebounds (seven), assists (two) and steals (two).
 
SAM LORENZEN
Just like Sallee, Lorenzen was feeling it all night. He spread out all his scoring as well and had season highs in points (20), three-pointers made (five) and hit 3-of-4 from the line.  Lorenzen hit three of his five threes in the second half and only missed one shot during that stretch.
 
Lorenzen is 10-of-18 from deep in his last two games and is now hitting 33.7 percent of his threes on the year.
 
While those three contributed 57 of the team's 73 points, Juwan Jones picked his spots and forced the issue late in the second half, proving Central Christian was not a brick wall in the paint like it asserted in the first half. Jones got to the line on three separate occasions and helped turn the tide and keep it on Texas Wesleyan's side late. Dare Brazeal and Rob Thomas combined for 14 rebounds and eight assists.
 
CLOSE CONFERENCE
USAO upset John Brown 64-63, Wayland Baptist edged Oklahoma City 76-75, Southwestern Christian edged Oklahoma Panhandle 64-59 and Southwest Assemblies of God crushed a surprised No. 4 Langston team in Waxahachie, 90-66. All of those results helped the Rams leap from 10th to 8th in just one night, just a half game back of 7th.
 
Wayland Baptist is now the only conference team with one loss. No. 12 Oklahoma City has lost three games in a row.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rams will face that same Langston team that will likely come to the Sid Richardson Center angry with something to prove, Saturday at 4 p.m. It will be the third game in five days.