RAMS KEEP STREAK ALIVE WITH OVERTIME THRILLER
January 28, 2010

FORT WORTH, TX:  It has been two years to the day since the Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (16-4, 9-0 RRAC) lost a game on its home floor.  On Thursday, the 10th ranked Rams kept the streak alive at 32 with a 103-98 overtime win against Huston-Tillotson University (5-11, 5-4).  The game marked the second overtime contest during the streak which dates back to January 28, 2008.

Rams struggled throughout the game to stop Huston-Tillotson’s tandem of Titus Butler and Gabe Haskins who combined for 65 of HTU’s 98 points.

Huston-Tillotson controlled play throughout the first half, leading by as many as 10 points, 38-28.  Jamel White poured in 21 first half points to keep Texas Wesleyan close at 47-40 at the break.

Texas Wesleyan asserted itself early in the second half.  Just 1:39 into the period, Hector Mukweyi jammed a feed from Brian Wanamaker to tie the game at 49.  The game rolled through three more ties before Huston-Tillotson scored six unanswered points to pull ahead 70-62 with just over nine minutes to play.

Texas Wesleyan stormed back again.  A pair of free throws from Jeremy Smith capped a 9-2 run that gave the Rams their first lead, 72-71, since the score read 3-2.  From there the lead changed hands two more times before Haskins hit a fade-away jumper to bring the game to its ninth tie at 85-85 with 30 seconds to play.  With seven seconds to play the Rams called timeout to setup for one final shot.  With three seconds to go, HTU’s Kendal DuCree forced a tie-up and the possession arrow favored Huston-Tillotson.  HTU was unable to get a shot off in the final seconds and the game went to overtime.

Texas Wesleyan started the overtime with a layup from Jeremy Smith and a three-pointer from White to jump ahead 90-85.  Smith later hit a triple to give Texas Wesleyan a commanding 95-88 advantage with 1:59 remaining.  The Rams led by as many as eight and held on for the 102-96 win.

White led all scorers with 37 points off the bench for Texas Wesleyan.  White went 9-for-16 from the field, 5-for-8 from long range, and 14-for-17 at the free throw line.  Smith finished with a double-double on 18 points and 10 assists.  Brian Wanamaker added 22 points, and Jeremy Mayfield posted 10 points and 11 boards for the Rams.

Butler finished with 35 points while Haskins posted 30 points for Huston-Tillotson.  HTU’s Darrell Glover also notched a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

“If our defense does not improve, we have no chance to be successful,” commented head coach Terry Waldrop.  “We ran into a team that was hungry to prove something tonight.  Offense was clearly not a problem for either team, but I thought the game came down to three stops in overtime.  If we cannot guard better than that we will get beat on Saturday.”

The Rams return to action on Saturday, when they travel to San Antonio, TX, for a Red River Athletic Conference tilt with Our Lady of the Lake University.  That game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start.