CHICKASHA, Okla. — The Texas Wesleyan Men's Basketball Team struggled shooting the ball at No. 12 USAO, falling 100-87 to the Drovers on Thursday night.
 
The Drovers record remains unblemished as they move to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in SAC play. TXWES drops to 5-2 and 2-2 in the league.
 
USAO entered the game ranked first in the NAIA in FG percentage defense (35%) and fifth in 3-pt percentage defense (25.9%) and proved their prowess. The Rams shot a season low 40.1 percent from the field and 24 percent from the arc in their second loss of the season.
 
USAO finished shooting 50.7 percent on the floor, 41.7 from deep and out-rebounded TXWES 42 to 30.
 
After a back-and-forth exchange in the first half, the Drovers entered the break leading 44-37 and led by as much as 11.
 
TXWES started the second half with Peyton Sallee's first trey of the game, and the Rams would stay within two possessions of USAO. Over the next four minutes, the Rams swiped 6 steals, two each by Sallee, Ryan Flores and Vydal Bradford.
 
Around the 14-minute mark, Sallee stole a long pass and got a Fastbreak layup getting the foul and one for the Ram's first lead (58-57) since 11:40 in the opening half.
 
The game tied twice more and exchanged leads until with 10 minutes to go, USAO's Stephon Hall drained back-to-back treys starting the Drovers on an eight-point run. The Rams would not recover the advantage as USAO would lead by as much as 16 points.
 
Five Rams scored in double figures led by Bradford (22 pts), David Shepard (18 pts), Sallee (15 pts), Sebastian Karwoski (12 pts) and Flores (10 points).
 
Karwoski added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and third in a Rams uniform.
 
USAO was led by Stephon Hall's 25 points and Gerard Makuntae's 5 blocks.
 
The Rams return home Saturday to host a noon contest with Dallas Christian College in the Sid Richardson Center.