FORT WORTH - The No. 14-seeded Texas Wesleyan Rams will take on the No. 3-seeded Baker University Wildcats in the first round of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship on Friday night at the Collins Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CDT.

Texas Wesleyan (19-10) earned an at-large bid to the national tournament after finishing sixth in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). The Rams secured their spot despite an early exit in the SAC tournament, falling 81-73 to Mid-America Christian in the quarterfinals.

Under first-year head coach Brian Wanamaker, the Rams will look to pull off an upset against a Baker team that has been dominant throughout the season. The Wildcats (28-3) enter the tournament with momentum.

To advance, Texas Wesleyan will need a strong performance from key contributors. Senior forward Montez Young Jr., who was named the SAC's Sixth Man of the Year, has been a crucial asset for the Rams, averaging 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6% from the field. Fellow senior Richard Amaefule adds depth to the front court, giving Texas Wesleyan a presence in the paint.

Baker, led by head coach Sean Dooley, has been dominant at home and boasts an experienced roster. The Wildcats' balanced attack will test Texas Wesleyan's defense, making it critical for the Rams to control the tempo and limit turnovers.

The game will be the fourth meeting between the two programs, with Baker winning all three previous match-ups. Texas Wesleyan will aim to break that streak and advance to the next round of the NAIA tournament.

Fans can follow the action via live stream on the NAIA Network or on ramsports.net.