RAMS MAKE MAVS SWEAT IN FIRST HALF |
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ARLINGTON, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (3-2) took on NCAA Division I UT-Arlington (6-0) on Thursday. In what was an exhibition contest for Texas Wesleyan, the Rams came up on the short end of a 71-49 score.
In the first half, the Rams kept pace with the high-powered Mavs by striking on 5-of-12 (41.7%) from beyond the arc. A three from Fred Eshon kept the Rams within four, 32-28, with 1:32 to play, and the deficit was just five, 33-28, at the break. Kennith Gober scored 10 points in the period. Freshman Ryan Barnes, making his first collegiate start, scored eight points while draining a pair of threes.
A 10-2 run early in the second half gave UTA an eleven-point advantage at 43-32. Midway through the period the Mavs put the game out of reach by holding the Rams scoreless for a five minute stretch and opening a 64-42 lead with just over four minutes remaining. From there UTA cruised to the 71-49 win.
In what is the longest running rivalry for Texas Wesleyan, dating to the program’s inception in the 1935-36 season, UT-Arlington improved to 38-13. At 6-0, the Mavs are off to their best start in school history.
While the Rams were on the short end of the scoreboard, the season and the future looks bright. For the first time in head coach Terry Waldrop’s tenure, Texas Wesleyan started a pair of true freshmen in Barnes and point guard Evan Randall.
Barnes finished with 12 points and went 3-for-8 from three-point range. Gober, a junior guard, led the Rams with 19 points. UTA’s Jermain Griffin led all scorers with 22 points while pulling down 13 rebounds. Texas Wesleyan will return to action on Tuesday, December 4, when they travel to New Orleans, LA, to take on 10th ranked Xavier University. That contest is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start. |
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