WAXAHACHIE, TX - With just seven players in the rotation, Texas Wesleyan Men's Basketball (11-13, 6-10 SAC) fell to Southwest Assemblies of God (15-9, 8-8 SAC) 87-80 Tuesday night, the Rams' sixth conference loss by nine points or less in the last four weeks.

The squad - which continues to prove it's might in the toughest NAIA Men's Basketball conference in the country - was led by Peyton Sallee's 24 points in 39 minutes on 8-of-18 shooting - all career highs. Sallee has been in double figures eight of the last nine games after scoring 10 points or more in three of his first 11 matchups. The freshman is one of four healthy bodies who have played an average of over 20 minutes per appearance throughout the season.

Rob Thomas scored 16 points in 37 minutes, grabbing six rebounds. Joe Cook-Green pitched in 14 points, three rebounds and two dishes, Justin Flakes scored 11 points off the bench missing just one of his six shots and Sam Lorenzen added 10 points.

TXWES battled back from an early 9-3 hole to take a 25-24 lead on Diing Lwal Diing's bucket in the paint. He was the fourth different Ram to score in a 1:34 stretch that totaled a 9-2 run. After a cold-spurt of seven missed shots slipped the Rams back into a nine-point hole, once again Texas Wesleyan showed the talent to persevere. Thomas nailed a three - assisted by Flakes - and then Falkes scored off of Brazeal's clearance at the other end. Flakes put back a Diing miss before Sallee's three helped the Rams re-gain the lead 37-36.

Up 44-43 at the half, TXWES and SAGU wrestled back and forth with the lead in the second frame. The Lions took a 45-44 lead before the Rams re-gained the advantage at 55-53 (Cook-Green three). With 8:18 to play, Texas Wesleyan held a 69-62 lead before the Lions went on a 14-3 run to take the lead for good. 

Cameron Hill - who hit the game-winner for the Lions the first go around - didn't play and hasn't had a game over 20 points since January 10. Texas Wesleyan forced 17 turnovers and hit 11 threes, the second time this season the Rams have made double-digit treys in back-to-back outings.

SEASON OUTLOOK
The Rams are 1.5 games back of eighth place to qualify for the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with six games to go - plenty of time to make up ground. All a team needs is to get into the postseason to get on a run. Last season, the No. 4 seed SAGU Lions ended up winning the conference and earning a spot in the NAIA Tournament. March is the time for madness, after all.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Rams will continue to hang tough and stay as healthy as possible through a rigorous conference schedule Thursday night when TXWES hosts Southwestern Christian at 8 p.m. Southwestern Christian is also 8-8 and was held to 59 points by a stingy Rams' defense in a 66-59 victory for Texas Wesleyan in Bethany, Oklahoma. The Eagles are just 3-5 on the road this season.