FORT WORTH, TX — Texas Wesleyan University (10-4, 6-4 SAC) earned a hard-fought 69-58 victory over Mid-America Christian University (10-4, 6-4 SAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Saturday.
A dominant performance on the boards and strong defensive play powered the Rams to the win.
The first half featured a fast-paced battle, with Texas Wesleyan holding a 33-28 lead at halftime. The Rams established an early advantage, fueled by Montez Young Jr.'s athleticism and Trey Sinegal's scoring touch. Young Jr. contributed a layup, a dunk, and a pivotal block, while Sinegal showcased his versatility, scoring inside and out while grabbing defensive rebounds.
The Evangels pushed back, led by Juwan White's tough finishes in the paint and Magok Manyang's three-point shooting. Late turnovers by the Rams allowed MACU to cut the deficit to five points, but a layup by Vegas Evans in the closing seconds secured the Rams' halftime advantage.
Texas Wesleyan opened the second half with energy, extending their lead to 35-30 on a jumper by Richard Amaefule. MACU's Manyang briefly narrowed the gap with a three-pointer, but the Rams maintained control through consistent scoring and stifling defense.
Sinegal recorded a double-double with 23 points and an impressive 17 rebounds, while Young Jr. added 18 points and 12 boards, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor. Amaefule contributed 12 points and five rebounds, hitting clutch free throws in the game's critical moments.
Midway through the half, Texas Wesleyan built an eight-point cushion behind Sinegal and Amaefule's efforts. MACU's White drained a late three-pointer, but the Rams sealed the win with free throws from Kaden Morgan, pushing the lead to double digits in the final seconds.
The Rams shot 47.3% from the field while limiting MACU to 31.3%. Texas Wesleyan also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Evangels 46-35, and outscored their opponent 36-26 in the paint.
The Rams will travel across the Metroplex on Monday to face the University of North Texas at Dallas with the game scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. tipoff.
