Complete Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana – Facing their most difficult test of the season, NCAA Division I Southland Conference Champion McNeese State University, the Ram basketball team fell behind early and couldn’t recover, posting their first loss in seven games this season, 85-54.

The Cowboys, playing their season- and home-opener, jumped out to an early nine-point lead, as Jason Coleman, Eldridge Lewis, and Edward Garriet hit consecutive three-pointers on Wesleyan turnovers. Kenny Johnson finally got the Rams on the board nearly three minutes into the game with a lay-up on a nice feed from Aaron Whaley. The Rams tacked on another bucket on a breakaway by James Whitfield a few moments later, prompting McNeese State head Coach Tic Price to call a timeout.

The Cowboys responded by pounding the offensive boards to put back a missed three-point attempt on their next possession, then, after a long Whitfield jumper, Lewis hit Larry Jackson for an easy alley-oop, and the McNeese crowd came alive.

Whaley’s attempted alley-oop to David Johnson on the Rams’ next possession was intercepted, and Coleman hit both free throws after being fouled on the ensuing rush. Kenny Johnson scored on a very nice reverse lay-up, but less than a minute later, the Cowboys began a 15-3 run, sparked by three consecutive three-point buckets, to increase their lead to 19 points with 7:48 left in the first half.

Thanks to two second-chance baskets by Joey Gladney, the Rams were able to shave four points off the lead over the next few minutes, but McNeese State closed out the half on a 10-4 run, bringing the score to 47-26 at the break.

Whitfield opened the second half by nailing a three-pointer for the Rams, and the teams traded points evenly for a few minutes. If the Rams had any hope of making a run to get back in the game, though, it ended around the 14-minute mark after two consecutive Cowboy steals led to easy baskets, the second worthy of the highlight reel, as Garriet bounced a pass off the backboard to a trailing Damond Williams, who slammed it home. The basket increased McNeese State’s lead to 30 at 65-35, and it drew a standing ovation from the crowd. They remained standing throughout the rest of the contest.

McNeese added one point to the lead over the remaining minutes, as the Cowboys cruised to an 85-54 victory.

McNeese was led by Garriet’s 19 points, followed by Adrian Johnson with 12, Williams with 11, and Coleman and Greg Tucker with 10 apiece. Williams added 11 rebounds to post his first double-double of the season. He also recorded five assists.

For the Rams, Whitfield scored 19 points, including three three-pointers. David Johnson scored 11 and added 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double in seven games. He also led the Rams with three assists and three blocks. Joey Gladney was perfect from the floor in four attempts, scoring eight points.

The Rams drop to 6-1 on the season, and return home tomorrow night to face the Mountaineers of Schreiner University in the Sid Richardson Center. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.