COUGARS TOP RAMS IN TEXAS SHOOTOUT
November 24, 2006

USF vs TWU Box Score

WC vs. SAGU Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX:  In a game that featured the NAIA’s 6th ranked Division I team hosting the 8th ranked Division II team, the Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (5-2) suffered an 83-70 loss at the hands of the University of Sioux Falls (7-1) on Friday.  In the first game of the Texas Shootout, hosted by Texas Wesleyan, Westmont College (3-1) defeated Southwestern Assemblies of God University (2-5) by a score of 71-60.

Texas Wesleyan jumped out to a 25-16 lead in the games first ten minutes.  However, USF reeled off an 11-1 run to take the lead at 27-26.  Texas Wesleyan held a one-point advantage 36-35 after a three-pointer from CJ Higginbotham, but USF’s Eric Ables knocked down an answering three to send the Cougars to the locker room with a 38-36 lead.

Both teams shot extremely well in the first half, but the Cougars played stifling defense in the second half, holding the Rams to just 35% shooting in the period.

Midway through the second half, the game remained close at 53-49, but USF went on a 7-1 run to open a double-digit advantage at 60-50.  That lead swelled to as many as 15 as the Cougars frustrated the Rams and cruised to the 83-70 win.

For the game, USF out shot Texas Wesleyan 51%-43%.  TWU’s Evan Patterson led all scorers with 25 points to go with 12 rebounds.  CJ Higginbotham finished with 14 and Nino Etienne scored 11 for the Rams.

USF was led by Jesse Huser and Gerard VanLeur who each scored 18 points.  Eric Ables added 12 for the Cougars.

In the tournament’s first game, Westmont’s Santiago Aguirre put up a double-double with 29 points and 13 boards.  SAGU’s Jeremy Bowman led four Lions in double-figures with 16 points.

Tomorrow’s early game feature’s USF against SAGU at 2:30 p.m.  The Rams will take the court against Westmont at 4:30 p.m.