RAMS FIGHT OFF WARRIORS
February 7, 2007

Box Score

MUSKOGEE, OK:  The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (14-6, 7-3 RRAC) took an 84-74 win at Bacone College (7-15, 3-7) on Wednesday.

The Rams took a lightning quick 7-2 lead, but Bacone battled back to tie the game at seven.  Texas Wesleyan held their largest lead of the period, 37-30, with 1:38 to play; however, Bacone’s Chris Mathurin hit a three with 38 seconds on the clock to pull his team within three, 37-34, at the break.

Bacone made things interesting briefly in the second half when Donelle Wilson’s jumper gave the Warriors their first lead of the game at 38-37.  The Warriors stretched that lead to five at 48-43, but Texas Wesleyan rattled off 12 unanswered points capped by a three-point play from Dane Dmitrovic to regain control.

The Rams pushed their lead to as many as 14, 76-62, and the issue was never in doubt.

Dmitrovic led the Rams with a career-high 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in his first double-double.  Evan Patterson led all scorers with 18 points.  CJ Higginbotham finished with 14, Kelvin Williams 12, and Justin Loewe 10 for the Rams.  Bacone was led by Jerrell Strickland’s 14 points.

The Rams won the battle-of-the-boards 41-32 while out shooting the Warriors 56%-49%.