GOODWELL, OK — Texas Wesleyan University's early dominance was overshadowed by a second-half surge from Oklahoma Panhandle State, as the Rams fell 71-66 in Sooner Athletic Conference action at Anchor D Arena on Saturday.

The Rams (13-7, 9-7 SAC) started strong, using a stifling defense and efficient shooting to build a commanding 37-26 halftime lead. Trey Sinegal led the way with 17 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field, while Matt Nero added 15 points, including three three-pointers. Richard Amaefule contributed 14 points and five rebounds, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Texas Wesleyan capitalized on Oklahoma Panhandle State's miscues early, scoring 21 points off turnovers and dominating the paint with 30 points. By the 9:17 mark in the first half, a Nero three-pointer extended the Rams' lead to double digits. Late buckets from Montez Young, Jr. and Sinegal pushed the Rams' largest lead of the contest to 11.

However, the Aggies (8-13, 6-11 SAC) stormed back in the second half, led by a standout performance from Amaree Brown, who poured in 22 points, including 14-of-17 from the free-throw line. Abdulh Diaby added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Kyle Belgrave contributed 13. Oklahoma Panhandle State outscored the Rams 45-29 in the final 20 minutes, shooting 53.8% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc.

The Rams struggled to maintain their rhythm in the second half, committing costly turnovers and shooting 28.6% from three-point range. Missed opportunities allowed the Aggies to chip away at the deficit, ultimately taking the lead with under a minute remaining. Crucial free throws down the stretch from Brown and PJ Daniels sealed the comeback victory for the Aggies.

The Rams look to return to the winning column on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. in the Sid Richardson Center against the University of Science & Art