RAMS LOSE HEARTBREAKER
March 2, 2006

WAXAHACHIE, TX:  The 23rd ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (20-9) suffered a heartbreaking 86-85 loss against the host team, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (15-16), at the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.  The Rams will have to wait until Monday to learn whether or not they receive an at large bid for the NAIA National Tournament.

In the first half, the Rams out shot the Lions 58%-53% while getting to the free throw line 18 times compared to just two for the Lions, but five three-pointers gave SAGU a 43-41 lead at the half.  That marked the first time that the Rams trailed at halftime since 11th ranked Houston Baptist led 38-35 on February 11, in a game that Texas Wesleyan won 83-80.

Five minutes into the second half, a three-pointer from Evan Patterson put the Rams ahead 54-52.  SAGU regained the lead, but Ben Hunt drained a three to tie the game at 69 with 6:26 to play and hit another to put Texas Wesleyan on top 72-71 with 5:34 on the clock.  SAGU then rattled off eight unanswered points to lead 79-72.  They maintained that margin at 82-75 with 17 seconds to play.

In the final seconds, Hunt hit a pair of free throws, and after the Lions’ Darius Howard hit one-of-two, Hunt drove the length of the court for a layup to pull the Rams within four at 83-79 with 10 seconds to go.  Texas Wesleyan sent Howard to the line again where he hit one-of-two.  Nino Etienne then hit a three with 2.2 seconds showing on the clock to bring the score to 85-82.

The Rams then called timeout, but were charged with a technical foul because they had none remaining.  Howard hit both free throws to make it a two-possession game at 86-82.  On the inbound pass, Etienne stripped the ball from Howard and hit a three at the buzzer, but Texas Wesleyan fell 86-85.

For the game, SAGU shot 50% from the field while the Rams shot 49%.  The Lions led 36-35 in rebounds.  Texas Wesleyan hit 10 threes while SAGU hit 9.  Free throws and turnovers were also very close.

Hunt led four Rams in double-figure scoring with a career-high 33 points to go with 7 rebounds.  Howard led four Lions in double-figures, finishing with 36 points and 8 assists.  Texas Wesleyan’s Khayri McKinney added 13 points and 7 assists, while Etienne scored 16 and Evan Patterson tallied 14.

With the loss, Texas Wesleyan’s record now stands at 20-9. The Rams will have to wait and see if they make the field of 32 for the NAIA National Tournament, which will be held March 15-20 in Olathe, KS.  The championship is a 32-team, single-elimination tournament featuring 16 automatic qualifiers from 11 Division I affiliated conferences, one independent qualifier, and 15 at-large berths.  Selections for the tournament will be made following this weekend’s conference tournaments.