Complete Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas – Clayton Powdrill scored 33 and Eric Tatum added 29 as Jarvis Christian College handed Texas Wesleyan University its first home defeat of the season. Tatum’s free throw with two minutes remaining broke an 85-85 tie, and the Bulldogs scored the final ten points of the game to earn the Red River Conference victory, 96-85.

As the game began, it looked like Wesleyan would put it away early. The Rams bolted from the gate, as Aaron Whaley followed up Marcus Johnson’s opening bucket with the game’s first three-pointer. David Johnson connected as well to give the Rams an 8-0 lead after just two minutes of play.

Jarvis Christian answered, though. Tatum got the Bulldogs on the board with a three, then, after a Du’Shon Daniels lay-up, tied it with another less than a minute later.

The lead seemed to constantly change hands for the remainder of the half, as both teams kept things up-tempo. The Rams managed to separate slightly as time wound down, but a late Bulldog surge kept the score reasonably close. Edward Arnold hit a pair of last minute buckets for Jarvis Christian, bringing the score to 46-43 at the break.

Powdrill tied the score a few seconds into the second half, knocking down a 25-foot jumper. Whaley responded for the Rams with the more traditional 20-foot three-pointer, but Powdrill again connected from beyond NBA range.

Jarvis Christian continued to keep the Rams’ lead razor-thin for a few minutes, but a 9-4 Wesleyan run, capped by another Whaley three, put the Rams up 71-62 with 9:38 left. However, Tatum immediately drilled a three-pointer for the Bulldogs, sparking a 10-0 run which would give Jarvis Christian a 72-71 lead two minutes later.

Brad Schilder connected from long range to put the Rams up by two, and David Johnson’s monster dunk extended that lead to four with seven minutes remaining, but the Bulldogs fought back with six consecutive points to grab a 78-76 lead.

Schilder again buried a three-pointer to put the Rams back on top 79-78 with 4:45 left, and the lead flip-flopped for the next three minutes as both teams continued to score at will. Unfortunately, David Johnson’s free throws at 2:10, tying the score at 85, proved to the Rams’ last points. Powdrill and Tatum combined for nine of the Bulldogs 11 points in the final two minutes, leading Jarvis Christian to victory.

Powdrill added eight rebounds, seven steals, and four assists to his 33 points, and Tatum posted three boards and three steals along with 29 points. Daniels also reached double figures for the Bulldogs, scoring ten, and LeDerrick Harris finished with nine. Jesus Mosquera posted eight rebounds.

The Bulldogs shot 43.5 percent from the floor on the night, but an amazing 52 percent from beyond the arc. Powdrill connected on eight of 13 attempts to lead the way.

The Rams had six players score in double figures, paced by Marcus Johnson’s 17. David Johnson recorded a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. Whaley scored 14, Kenny Johnson finished with 13, Brad Schilder had 12, and Joey Gladney finished with 11. Marcus Johnson had eight rebounds and Kenny Johnson had six. David Johnson also added another four blocks to his season total.

The Rams actually out shot Jarvis Christian from the floor, connecting on 43.8 percent of their attempts, but couldn’t keep pace from downtown, managing “just” 39 percent from three-point range.

Wesleyan drops to 17-8 for the year, and 9-4 in Red River Conference play. They stay at home to face Wiley College on Monday night, before hitting the road for two weeks. Mondays game tips-off at 7:30 PM.