PRYOR, Okla.- Texas Wesleyan University (1-1) lost to Oklahoma Wesleyan University (3-0) 71-53 on Friday at The Burdick Center. Texas Wesleyan went six minutes and 10 possessions without scoring during a first-half drought.
Oklahoma Wesleyan opened the first half with the early separation, scoring the first five points and moving ahead 14-4 by 17:00 as Texas Wesleyan committed several early turnovers. Texas Wesleyan worked back within 20-13 on
Aiden White's 3-pointer at 13:14, but the offense went without another basket until
Daniel Sohn's layup at 7:11 as Oklahoma Wesleyan pushed the score to 27-15. Oklahoma Wesleyan continued to add to the margin, getting consecutive layups from Cash McAlvain and later reaching 39-19 on Malachi Okunbor's jumper at 2:29. Texas Wesleyan closed the half with
Aiden White's two free throws and
Juraj Minarovjech's 3-pointer off a
James Stevenson assist, cutting the halftime score to 39-24.
Juraj Minarovjech hit a 3-pointer at 18:56, but Oklahoma Wesleyan answered with baskets by Jermiah Johnson and Yashi McKenzie before
Devon Carter and
Michael DeHorney scored inside to bring Texas Wesleyan to 43-32. Oklahoma Wesleyan kept the separation with Cash McAlvain scoring inside, Nick Bene adding a layup off a turnover and McAlvain hitting a 3-pointer for a 50-36 lead after
Daniel Sohn's layup. Texas Wesleyan forced Oklahoma Wesleyan turnovers at 14:22, 13:52, 13:05 and 12:57 during a scoreless stretch, but Yashi McKenzie made two free throws and Oklahoma Wesleyan later moved ahead 58-41 on Ethan Williams' layup at 9:00.
Caleb Harris and Sohn made 3-pointers in the closing stretch, and Sohn's layup and
Anthony Sierras' free throws brought Texas Wesleyan to 65-52 with 2:06 left, but Oklahoma Wesleyan added 3-pointers by Angel Hidalgos and Kelston Young in the final 1:17 and finished the 71-53 win.
DeHorney finished with 13 points and six rebounds, converting 7 of 9 free throws.
Daniel Sohn also scored 13 points, going 5 of 9 from the field with two 3-pointers.
Anthony Sierras recorded five steals and added five points. Stevenson posted four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Rams return to action tomorrow as they take on University of St. Mary's (KS) in Pryor, OK on Saturday, October 31 at 1pm.
