MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma - For a few minutes late in the first half, it looked like Texas Wesleyan might be in jeopardy of compiling their first three-game losing streak of the season, but Brad Schilder’s six points in the final minute gave the Rams a 34-30 lead, and the Rams exploded for a season-high 64 second-half points to easily down the Warriors, 98-77.

James Whitfield came out red-hot for the Rams, hitting his first five field goal attempts as Wesleyan jumped out to a 13-point lead midway through the first half. Tamas Komodi led a Bacone charge, however, as the Warriors scored 11 straight points to ignite a 20-5 run, giving them a two-point lead at the 2:35 mark. Neither team scored until Schilder’s outburst in the final 49 seconds put the Rams ahead to stay.

Wesleyan immediately pounced on the Warriors in the second frame, as Marcus Johnson scored four of the Rams’ eight consecutive points in the first 1:40. Bryan Wesson then scored six to close the gap slightly for Bacone, but David Johnson’s three-point play, followed immediately by four more Wesleyan free throws, punched the lead back up to 13 with 15 minutes left.

At the midway point in the second, and the Rams up by 14, Marcus Johnson’s bucket sparked an 8-0 Wesleyan run, capped by David Johnson’s monster dunk, that extended the lead past 20. The Warriors would chip away over the next few minutes to get within 16 , but Johnson closed the door for good with another dunk, and the Rams cruised to the easy 21-point victory, tying their season high with 98 points.

Gene Buie led the Warriors with 18 points, connecting on eight of 17 shots and a pair of free throws. Toby Davidson followed with 13, and Komodi and Mike Griffin each finished with 12. Rodrick Taylor led Bacone with six rebounds.

Whitfield led all scorers with 22 points, hitting seven of 13 shots, including two of three from beyond the arc. He was six for six from the line. Marcus Johnson scored 14 in the second half to finish with 16 for the game, and led all players with eight rebounds. He also recorded a season-high seven steals. Schilder finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, and David Johnson and Aaron Whaley each scored 12.

Johnson added a gime-high four blocks and Whaley dished out a game-high six assists. Kenny Johnson scored nine with six boards for the Rams, who out-rebounded an opponent (46-30) for the first time in five games.

The Rams stay on the road for their next game, a Thursday night tilt against Wiley College in Marshall, before returning home on Saturday to face Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Wesleyan defeated SAGU 82-65 in front of a rowdy Waxahachie crowd on December 12. Saturday’s game tips off at 7:30 PM in the Sid Richardson Gymnasium.