The Opponent:
USAO (8-0, 3-0 SAC): January 21, 2021 at 8 p.m. at Chickasha, Okla. |
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Live Stats
Game Notes (PDF)
About the Rams:
TXWES (5-1, 2-1 SAC) has won back-to-back conference games to stand in second in SAC rankings. They are behind upcoming opponent USAO who is undefeated on the season and 3-0 in league play.
6-1 junior guard Peyton Sallee leads the team in scoring (18.7 ppg) and is currently second in the NAIA from the arc. He is 24-for-35 (68.6%) from deep in six games this season. Sallee is also leads the team in steals (2.5 spg).
Two other Rams are averaging double figures in scoring in Vydal Bradford (16.8 ppg) and Christopher Coley (10.7 ppg). Ryan Flores (6.2 rpg) and Sebastian Karwoski (6.0 rpg) lead TXWES in rebounding.
As a team, TXWES nationally ranks No. 6 in scoring margin (20.2), No. 8 in 3-pt FG (40.9), No. 9 in FG percentage (51.0) and No. 10 in steals per game (10.7 spg).
Last Time Out:
The Rams had a dominating showing at No. 22 John Brown, beating the Golden Eagles 78-48 on Jan. 14.
The game marked the first time a Rams team has held their opponent to under 50 points since Nov. 13, 2014 when TXWES defeated Grand View 74-47 in Olathe, Kansas.
The Rams got off to a sizzling 14-0 start and held JBU scoreless for the game's first five minutes. JBU did not reach double figures on the board until 7:55 left in the half, shooting a poor 6-for-26 from the field.
TXWES kept its foot on the pedal, shooting 61.5 percent on 16-for-26 shooting in the final half. The Rams finished with 8 long balls.
Neither team shot well from the line, the Rams going 12-for-19 and the Golden Eagles 13-for-20.
The Rams out-rebounded JBU 40-27. TXWES did commit more turnovers 22 to JBU's 18, however, the Rams cashed in the miscues for 25 points versus the Golden Eagles 14 from Ram mistakes.
Bradford led all scorers with 20 points on 8-for-10 field shooting, 2-for-3 from the arc, and 2-for-3 at the line. He was one of four Rams with 6 rebounds each alongside Flores, Sallee and Coley.
Sallee scored 14 points and had 5 of the Ram's 11 steals. Coley scored 12 points. Karwoski had 2 blocks.
Scouting the Drovers:
No. 12 USAO (8-0, 3-0 SAC)
Nationally speaking, the Drovers are ranked No. 1 in FG percentage defense (35.0), No. 5 in 3-pt FG percent defense (25.9), No. 6 blocks per game (5.3 bpg) and No. 8 defensive boards per game (32.2).
USAO is led by Elvin Rodriquez (18.1 ppg), Cameron Hines (17.8 ppg, 3.0 apg) and Stephon Hall (15.2 ppg).
On defense, 6-7 forward Trenton Sandifer averages 2 blocks a game and Gerard Makuntae is the team's leading rebounder at 8.6 rpg.
In their most recent game, the Drovers extended their win streak to eight games with a 85-64 victory at Langston.
Hines closed with 26 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field, and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. Makuntae recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Rodriguez racked up 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field.
The History:
The Rams trail the overall series 11-13 and are 4-4 in Chickasha. In their first contest, TXWES won 99-93 on Nov. 11, 1973 in Fort Worth, and the latest contest saw the Drovers win 98-96 in the Sid Richardson Center on March 3, 2020.
Looking Forward:
TXWES was originally scheduled to play Mid-America Christian on Saturday afternoon; however, the Evangels are in quarantine. Therefore, the Rams will host Dallas Christian at noon instead.
