#24 RAMS KNOCK OF #11 HUSKIES
February 11, 2006

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (15-7, 11-3 RRAC), ranked 24th in the nation, took a 83-80 win over #11 Houston Baptist (18-5, 14-2).  With the win, the Rams pulled to within one game of the Huskies in the loss column for the top spot in the Red River Athletic Conference.

In the first half, the Huskies held the Rams to just 30% shooting from the field.  HBU held its largest lead at 38-30 with just over one minute remaining, but Khayri McKinney nailed a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five, 38-33, at halftime.

In the second half, Texas Wesleyan stepped up its intensity.  The Rams tied the game at 50 with a layup from Scott Reasoner with 11:57 on the clock.  Texas Wesleyan regained the lead when McKinney drained another trey with just under eight minutes to play, bringing the score to 59-57.

A put-back from Evan Patterson with 6:27 capped an 11-0 Texas Wesleyan run and gave the Rams a 63-57 edge.  A three pointer from Ben Hunt with 3:48 to go put the Rams up 70-62.  They continued to lead by eight when Reasoner hit a three with 1:29 to play.  After a jumper from HBU’s Dwight Jones, Nino Etienne answered with a bucket to give the Rams a 75-67 edge with 56 seconds to play.

HBU did make things interesting in the final seconds.  Texas Wesleyan held an 81-72 lead with 32 seconds on the clock after a pair of free throws from Ben Hunt.  Dwight Jones scored a quick bucket, and Chad Barnes hit a pair of three-pointers to pull HBU within one at 81-80.  Scott Reasoner hit a pair of free throws with five seconds to go, and Barnes’ buzzer beater missed its mark to account for the 83-80 final.

“They hit some big shots at the end,” said head coach Terry Waldrop.  “We told the guys at halftime that the key was rebounding and free throw shooting.  We were able to negate those two factors in the second half.”

The Rams matched HBU’s 43 rebounds and scored 25 points (25-29) from the charity stripe.

Five Rams reached double-figures in scoring.  Ben Hunt led the way with a game high 22 points to go with nine rebounds.  Evan Patterson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.  Nino Etienne also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Khayri McKinney and Scott Reasoner each added 13 points.  Bert Cherrington led four Huskies in double-figure scoring with 21 points.

Texas Wesleyan returns to the hardwood on Monday when they host Huston-Tillotson University in Red River Athletic Conference action.  That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a women’s game.