CHICKASHA, OK - Texas Wesleyan Men's Basketball (13-4, 6-2 SAC) is getting comfortable in the state of Oklahoma. After huge buckets down the stretch in an 83-80 win at Oklahoma City on January 9, the Rams earned clutch baskets at the University of Science and Arts-Oklahoma (7-10, 2-6 SAC) Saturday in another three-point win, 77-74.

The Rams won the game despite not hitting a field goal from the floor in the final 3:24. That's because Texas Wesleyan was at the line, hitting free throw after free throw. The Drovers erased a 70-64 deficit at 3:24 to tie the game at 70 with 1:21 left, but with 27 seconds remaining, neither team had broken the tie. That's when Peyton Sallee was fouled and made both free throws. After the Drovers only made one foul shot and fell behind again, Sallee hit another from the line. Following a Drover turnover, LaMont Simmons hit two and Sam Lorenzen iced the game away hitting both of his opportunities with three seconds left. USAO missed a game-tying three at the buzzer and the Rams escaped a potential upset.

The game featured 49 fouls and 54 free throws, 33 of which belonged to the aggressive Rams. Simmons was the best at the line, hitting 7-of-8 despite only getting two opportunities to hoist shots from elsewhere in 22 minutes. Sallee once again led the offense, scoring 18 with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. In Sallee's last five games, he's averaging 19 points per game, hitting 15-of-33 from beyond the arc. 

Akeem White had 12 points and seven rebounds - all defensive - off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting. Joe Cook-Green also came off the bench and reached double-figures with 11 points, grabbing eight rebounds while dishing out two assists and nabbing two steals. Sam Lorenzen chipped in 10 points.

The victory comes despite a disadvantage in rebounding, 47-29, including a 13-2 disadvantage on the offensive glass but the Rams defense never gave up, only allowing 10 second-chance points despite all the extra attempts for the Drovers. Plus, USAO turned the ball over 25 times, making those second chances a simple necessity to remain in contention. Seven different Rams recorded a steal in the game.

TXWES improved to 2-0 on the road in the Sooner State, with three more trips left this season.

Langston (Thursday ay 8 p.m.) and Central Christian (Saturday at 3:45 p.m.) will be in town next week for a pair of SAC contests. Neither is above .500, but Langston has had a similar resume to the Rams up to this point, topping Our Lady of the Lake, Jarvis Christian, Oklahoma City, USAO and Panhandle State en rout to an 11-6 start. Texas Wesleyan looks to conquer some demons against the Lions - after four victories in a row over Langston, the Rams have lost the last two by a combined ten points.