FORT WORTH, Texas - Senior Wesley Haynes picked up two steals and three points in the final minute to help Texas Wesleyan pull out a 76-74 victory over Texas College, Saturday evening in Red River Conference play.

     Down by three points with 1:28 remaining, Haynes came up with a steal at mid-court and was fouled. The Hammond, La. native, drained two free throws to cut the lead to one. Haynes went once more to the well and came up with another steal. With 37 seconds left on the clock, Haynes' putback put the Rams ahead by one. Texas College missed a jumper in the lane on its next possession. Haynes made one-of-two free throws to increase the Ram lead to 76-74. Junior Anthony Martin then stole the in-bounds pass to seal the game.

     Texas College stayed in the game on the strength of rebounding. The Steers outrebounded Texas Wesleyan, 53-42, and also had 25 offensive rebounds. What killed them were the 23 turnovers they committed.

     Texas College (4-13, 3-4 RRAC) opened the game on a 7-2 run to take a five-point lead at the 18:35 mark of the first half. Donald Walker canned a jumper and a trey during the run.

     Texas Wesleyan (9-7, 5-1 RRAC) fought back, rallying for 13 straight points. Sophomore Brad Schilder had five points while Haynes and senior David Johnson both added four points to give the Rams a eight-point lead with 15:34 remaining.

     The Steers countered to retake the lead, going on a 16-2 run over the next five minutes. Wilbur Lewis and Jamar Adams both had four points to give Texas College a six-point lead with 10:44 remaining in the first half.

     The Rams closed out the first half, outscoring Texas College, 21-15, to tie the score at 38-38.

     In the second half, the Rams built a five-point lead as Johnson tallied six points and Schilder added five. Texas Wesleyan led 57-52, with 11:13 remaining in the game.

     Texas College outscored the Rams, 22-14 over the next nine minutes to take a three-point lead with 1:28 left in the game.

     Texas Wesleyan shot 40 percent (28-70) from the floor and 32 percent (6-19) from behind the arc. The Rams also shot 64 percent (14-22) from the free-throw line.

     Texas College shot 38 percent (26-69) from the field and 25 percent (5-20) from the three-point line. The Steers also shot 83 percent (19-23) from the charity stripe.

     Johnson led Texas Wesleyan with 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while Haynes tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and six steals. Schilder added 14 points.

     The Rams will be back in action Monday at 7:30 p.m., when they take on conference-rival Paul Quinn at the Sid Richardson Gymnasium.