RAMS FALL TO #5 OC
December 30, 2005

EDMOND, OK:  The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team traveled north to take on 5th ranked Oklahoma Christian University on Friday.  It was the fifth time this season that the Rams have squared off with a ranked opponent.  Unfortunately, the Eagles (10-1) took a 77-68 win over Texas Wesleyan (4-5).

The opening half was very tight.  Neither team led by more than five points until the Eagles scored eleven unanswered points to take a 41-29 lead with just 1:36 remaining.  OC led 43-33 at the break after out shooting the Rams 49%-32% in the half.

In the second half, the Rams cut the deficit to four (52-48) when Brad Schilder found Nino Etienne open for a layup with twelve minutes to play.  Later in the half, a three from Scott Reasoner and a pair of buckets from Evan Patterson cut the margin to two points (62-60) with just over six minutes remaining.  After an OC turnover, Schilder again hit Etienne for a game-tying bucket with 5:15 on the clock.

After an offensive foul call and a field goal from OC’s Brady Page, Wesleyan trailed by four (64-60) entering the final minute and a half.  The Rams were forced to foul, and the Eagles hit 10-of-11 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 77-68 win.

Oklahoma Christian out shot Texas Wesleyan 45%-39% from the field and 80%-68% from the charity stripe, while holding the Rams to just 28% (5-18) from long range.  The nation’s leading shot blocking team also swatted 13 Wesleyan field goal attempts.

Nino Etienne led the Rams with 21 points and nine rebounds while Scott Reasoner scored 14, and Evan Patterson added 13 points.  Keith Harris led the Eagles with 20 points, while Brady Page finished with 19.  John Nottley did not score for OC, but came up with six blocked shots.

The Rams return to action on January 7, when they take on Houston Baptist in their first Red River Athletic Conference road game of the season.  That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be proceeded by a women’s game at 5:30 p.m. in Houston, TX.