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STERLING, Kan. - Senior Wesley
Haynes had 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists to lead Texas
Wesleyan past Tabor College, 73-67, Friday evening in the opening
game of the Pizza Hut Warrior Classic.
Texas Wesleyan (2-2) started hot, outscoring
Tabor, 22-9, to take an 11-point lead at the 13:32 mark. The Rams
received eight points from Haynes and six points from junior Joey
Gladney. Sophomore Brad Schilder also chipped in six, draining two
from behind the arc.
Tabor College (0-3) fought back, going
on a 22-9 run of its own, to knot the score, 32-32, with 1:18 remaining
in the first half.
The Rams ended the half with a 6-0 run
on the strength of four free throws from junior Otto Beills and
a putback at the buzzer by sophomore Byron Tucker.
In the second half, Texas Wesleyan increased
its lead to 15, when sophomore Jaison Frazier popped in two free
throws at the 14:13 mark. During the span, the Rams went on a 15-6
run.
The Blue Jays closed the gap, outscoring
Texas Wesleyan, 18-8, over the next 10 minutes. The Ram lead dwindled
to five, 61-56, with 4:24 to play in the game.
Texas Wesleyan held on down the stretch,
with timely free-throw shooting by Fraizer and freshman Aaron Smith.
The duo knocked down 6-of-7 to close out the game.
"We were lucky to pull out the victory
tonight," head coach Terry Waldrop said. "Anytime you
go on the road and win, it is a plus. Even when you don't play very
well."
The Rams shot 42 percent (25-59) from the
field and 31 percent 4-of-13 from behind the arc. Texas Wesleyan
shot a dismal 48 percent (19-40) from the charity stripe, but made
the ones that counted down the stretch.
Texas Wesleyan held Tabor to 39 percent
25-of-65 shooting from the field. They have held every opponent
to under 40 percent shooting this season.
Schilder tallied 15 points for the game,
along with five rebounds and three assists. David Johnson added
12 points and four blocks, while Gladney chipped in 10 points.
The Rams will be back in action Saturday,
when they take on host Sterling College at 8 p.m.
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