RAMS OPEN WITH BIG WIN
November 4, 2006

Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX:  The defending NAIA National Champions opened their season with a blowout win over Dallas Christian College on Saturday.  The Rams (1-0) pounded the Crusaders (0-2) 99-40 in the Sid Richardson Center, marking the most lopsided victory for Texas Wesleyan since they defeated Dallas Christian 169-59 in 1993.

The Rams started hot and never looked back.  CJ Higginbotham and Fred Eshon connected on three-pointers in the game’s first minute giving TWU a 6-0 lead.  Higginbotham hit each of his first five three-point attempts and finished with 20 points in the first period.

Texas Wesleyan shot 64.5% from the floor and 56% from long range in the first half, and held a 52-28 advantage at the break.

In the second half, the Rams cooled off only slightly on the offensive end while they stepped up their defensive pressure.  The Rams forced 17 turnovers while holding Dallas Christian to just two field goals and 12 points in the period.

For the game, Texas Wesleyan shot 54% from the field and 44% from behind the arc.  They out rebounded the Crusaders 50-28 and forced 30 turnovers.

Higginbotham led all scorers with 28 points in just 28 minutes on 11-14 shooting from the floor and 6-8 shooting from long range.  His 28 points eclipsed his previous career-high by 12 points.  Evan Patterson started his season with a double-double on 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Nino Etienne and Fred Eshon each scored 12 points for the Rams while freshman Dane Dmitrovic brought down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Head coach Terry Waldrop commented, “after being embarrassed on Thursday [against UT Arlington] we responded the way we needed to.  “Our leadership of Higginbotham, Patterson, Eshon, Williams, and Etienne was outstanding.  Obviously giving up just two field goals in the second half, our defensive effort was also tremendous.”

The Rams return to action on Tuesday, November 7, when they travel to Oklahoma City, OK, to take on Oklahoma Christian University in a rematch of last season’s NAIA Sweet 16 game.  That game is scheduled to begin a 8:00 p.m.