SHREVEPORT — The No. 10 Texas Wesleyan Rams will play for a spot in the NAIA National Championship Sweet 16 when they face host No. 2 seed LSU Shreveport on Saturday at 5 p.m. CDT at The Dock.

Coming off an 83-71 upset of No. 7 Morningside in the first round Friday night, the Rams improved to 20-9 and earned their first trip this far in the national tournament in several years. Texas Wesleyan led 43-32 at halftime behind strong three-point shooting and interior play, then stretched the advantage to as many as 22 points before turning back a late rally from the Mustangs.

Daylan Hamilton paced the Rams with 22 points, Montez Young Jr. added 16 points and 12 rebounds with two blocks, Anthony Sierras scored 16 points while going 6 for 7 from the free-throw line and DaeVeon Scott contributed 14 points with six assists and two steals.

The Rams will now meet an LSU Shreveport team that finished 27-5, captured the Red River Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and enters as the No. 13 team in the NAIA rankings. The Pilots average more than 91 points per game and lead the country in several offensive categories, paced by RRAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year Hayden Brittingham, who is averaging 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds. LSU Shreveport also ranks among the national leaders in rebounding at 42.4 per game and assists at 17.4 per game.

The Rams will rely on the same balanced scoring and defensive effort that produced eight steals and nearly four blocks per game during the season. The Rams, who average 74.5 points, hope to slow the Pilots' transition game, limit second-chance points and keep Hamilton and the perimeter shooters involved while battling on the boards with Young Jr. and the front court.

A victory would send the Rams to Kansas City for the national finals and mark one of the biggest upsets of the tournament's opening weekend.