STREAK ENDS AT 10:

BACONE NIPS TEXAS WESLEYAN IN OT
February 6, 2006

MUSKOGEE, OK:  The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (14-7, 10-3 RRAC) suffered a heartbreaking 77-75 loss in overtime at Bacone College (11-11, 7-6) on Monday.  The loss snapped the Rams 10-game winning streak, which was the longest streak in school history since the 1982-83 squad put together 12 in a row.

Bacone capitalized on nine first half turnovers committed by the Rams.  The Warriors opened the largest lead of the first half at 21-15 with 9:26 on the clock.  They sustained that margin at 29-26, but thanks to a pair of three’s from Khayri McKinney, the Rams tied the game at 31.  The score remained knotted at 35, but Bacone closed the half with a jumper from Delwyn Gardner and a trey from Chris Mathurin.

In the second half, the Warriors opened a double-digit lead at 51-41.  At that point, the Rams finally built some momentum.  Texas Wesleyan used a 23-4 run to take a 64-55 lead with just under six minutes to play.

Mathurin answered the Rams’ run with a three pointer that sparked a 14-3 run that gave Bacone a 69-67 lead with 11 seconds remaining.  In the final second of regulation, McKinney brought the ball up the court and hit a layup to send the game to overtime.

The Warriors held the Rams scoreless in the extra frame until Ben Hunt knocked down a three to pull his team within a pair, 74-72 with one minute remaining.  With 19 seconds on the clock, Evan Patterson hit another three to pull the Rams within one at 76-75.

The Rams fouled Derek Townsend on the inbound, and Townsend hit one-of-two to bring the score to 77-75.  As time expired, Nino Etienne got a look at the basket, but his shot just rimmed out and Bacone escaped with a 77-75 win.

For the game, the Warriors hit an outstanding 10-of-20 three-point attempts.  The Rams won the battle of the boards 38-33, but failed to help themselves at the free throw line, shooting just 50% (6-12).  By contrast, the Warriors were 83% (15-18) from the line.

McKinney led the Rams with 21 points and 7 assists.  Evan Patterson scored 17, Ben Hunt recorded 14, and Nino Etienne finished with 12.  Mathurin led the Warriors with 21 points.

Texas Wesleyan will return to action on Saturday, February 11, when they host Houston Baptist University.  That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a women’s game.