Complete Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas – Texas Wesleyan’s nine-point halftime lead had slipped to just four points with five minutes remaining, but the Ram defense kicked in, holding the Wildcats scoreless for nearly three minutes. A pair of baskets doubled the lead, and Wesleyan coasted to a 77-69 win inside the Sid Richardson Gymnasium.

Wesleyan took control of the game early behind James Whitfield’s outside touch and David Johnson’s dominating presence on the inside. Whitfield, who finished with ten in the half, buried a pair of early jumpers to get the Rams rolling, before Johnson brought the crowd to life with several powerful dunks, including a pair of well-timed alley-oops from Aaron Whaley and Brad Schilder. Schilder also added a pair of buckets and nailed his first three-point attempt as the Rams took a 43-34 lead into halftime.

Sylvester Simple came alive for Wiley in the second frame. He scored four early buckets – including two putbacks – as the Wildcats began to cut into Wesleyan’s lead.

Joey Gladney, however, stepped up to help the Rams keep control of the game. He became a powerful force on the offensive glass, scoring eight second-chance points in the half. He also heated up from outside, knocking down his only three-point attempt of the frame and connecting on two other long jumpers. All told, Gladney finished with 15 of Wesleyan’s 34 second-half points.

Simple finished with a game-high 26 points on 13 of 19 shooting. He also pulled down ten rebounds. Kevan Morris was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 12 points. Ray Willis scored seven with nine rebounds.

As a team, the Wildcats shot a meager 39 percent from the floor, and connected on only five of 24 three-point attempts for a percentage of .208. They only turned the ball over six times, however, which helped keep the score relatively close.

Gladney, in his first start of the season, led the Rams with 20 points, hitting eight of 13 attempts from the floor. He also led the squad with 10 rebounds, recording his fourth double-double of the season. James Whitfield added 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and pulled down seven rebounds. David Johnson kicked in 13 points, seven boards, and four blocks. Brad Schilder scored 11 with five assists, and Albert Tally contributed a season-high seven points.

The Rams struggled from three-point distance and from the free throw line, shooting 29 percent and 42 percent respectively. They did, however, finish 32 of 62 overall from the floor, good for a solid 52 percent.

The Rams hit the road for three games, beginning with a trip to Odessa for Saturday’s match with UT-Permian Basin. Wesleyan defeated UTPB in Fort Worth on January 11, 86-76. The Rams return home on February 24 to face Red River Conference leader Houston Baptist University, currently the second-ranked NAIA team in the country. That game begins at 7:30 PM.