RAMS LOSE DOUBLE OT THRILLER |
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FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (17-9, 10-6 RRAC) dropped a 106-93 decision in double overtime to #20 Jarvis Christian College (24-4, 13-3) in the Sid Richardson Center on Wednesday.
In the first half, the Rams held the Bulldogs to just 30% shooting from the floor. Solid defense led to a 37-29 lead at the break.
Jarvis came back with seven threes in the second half. They used an 11-2 run to take the lead at 49-48. Dane Dmitrovic got the lead back with a layup on the next possession, but a pair of threes from Irving Moses three brought the score to 55-50.
Texas Wesleyan answered with a tip-in by Kelvin Williams and a pair of threes from CJ Higginbotham to go up 58-57 midway through the period. The Rams took control and were in the driver’s seat at 74-65 with 1:47 to play. Jarvis’ James Woodson drained a three and then scored a layup off a steal by Demarion Crite to close the gap to 74-70 with 1:13 on the clock.
In the first overtime, Jarvis started on a 7-1 run, but Texas Wesleyan hit all eight of their free throws in the last two minutes including a pair from Nino Etienne that tied the game at 88 with 12 seconds to play.
In the second overtime period Jarvis wore Texas Wesleyan down. The Bulldogs opened a nine-point advantage at 99-90. They led by ten, 103-93, with 33 seconds remaining when head coach William Sperow told his team to pull back. Roderick Braden ignored that message and drained a three at the buzzer for the 106-93 final.
The game was remarkably tight across the board. Jarvis Christian took the edge in shooting 49%-47% and rebounding 44-41, while the Rams held a plus two turnover margin. The Bulldogs went 11-of-24 from long range while five different players hit at least two threes. Higginbotham kept the Rams alive with his 7-of-11 from downtown.
Jarvis’ Neville Storer led all scorers with 27 points. Five other Bulldogs reached double-figures in scoring. The Rams return to action on Saturday, when they host Bacone College. That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Sid Richardson Center. |
In the final minute of regulation, the Rams went 2-for-4 at the line to open the door for the Bulldogs who tied the game at 76 with a free throw from Marshall Winfrey with 22 seconds to play.
Higginbotham led the Rams with 26 points. Etienne added 21 while Evan Patterson had 15. Dmitrovic finished with 18 points and 10 boards. The Rams’ fifth starter, Kelvin Williams, just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.The Rams Online was created by College Sports Online, Inc. It is maintained by Josh Lacy, SID, Texas Wesleyan University.