FORT WORTH — The Texas Wesleyan men's basketball team (12-3, 5-2 SAC) used an energetic second half to defeat Central Christian (10-4, 4-3 SAC) 72-53 on Monday evening at The Sid.

The Rams struggled in the first half and trailed by as much as 7 points in the first half. The Rams trailed 33-27 at halftime after a sluggish start.

Momentum shifted in the second half. The Tiger lead evaporated as the Rams outscored the Tigers 45 to 20. TXWES used the first nine minutes of the half to build a 14-6 run and took a 41-40 lead with 11:16 remaining.  Monster dunks from Lamine Komara and Kristian Lafayette and back-to-back threes from Elijah Elliot gave life to the Sid Richardson Center and the Rams overpowered Central Christian on the way to a 19-point win.

Five different Rams scored in double figures. Lafayette captured a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Lamine Komara had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Elijah Elliot notched 13 points, Payton Sallee had 12 points, and senior Davon Berry scored 11 points.

Sallee now has 1,193 career points, moving up to 13th on the TXWES all-time scoring list. 

The Rams shot 27 of 64 from the field (42 percent,) and shot 4 of 13 from the three-point line (30 percent.) The Rams played stifling defense as they held the Tigers to 17 of 55 from the field (30 percent.) TXWES dominated the paint with 40 points in the block.
 
The Rams move to 6-1 all-time against the Tigers. TXWES, winners of its last three, is currently third in SAC standings.
 
The Rams travel to Goodwell, Okla. on Thursday, Jan. 6 to take on OPSU at 7:45 p.m.
 
We missed it
On Saturday Nov. 27 against Jarvis Christian College, Peyton Sallee broke the program record for career 3-pointers made, surpassing Texas Wesleyan legend Ben Hunt's 219. Sallee has extended his total to 233, adding a pair in the win tonight.