TEXAS WESLEYAN ROUTES H-TU
February 13, 2006

FORT WORTH, TX:  The 24th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball team (16-7, 12-3 RRAC), took a convincing 102-80 win over Huston-Tillotson University (6-18, 6-10) on Monday in the Sid Richardson Center.

The Rams opened the game on a 23-2 run.  H-TU cut the lead to 11 at 28-17 with just over nine minutes remaining.  The two teams then battled to a 46-32 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Texas Wesleyan quickly pushed its lead back to 20 points at 52-32 thanks to a pair of layups and a dunk from Nino Etienne.  With just over seven minutes to play, H-TU had closed to 76-63, but Evan Patterson single handedly put a stop to the come back by hitting a three on each of the Rams’ next three possessions.

With 1:09 on the clock, Matt Barnett hit a three to put the Rams over the century mark and give them their largest lead of the day at 102-74.

Texas Wesleyan out rebounded Huston-Tillotson 39-31, and got to the free throw line early and often, hitting 24-of-30 from the charity stripe.

Ben Hunt led the way with 27 points.  Evan Patterson added 19 points and 9 rebounds.  Nino Etienne finished with 16 points and Scott Reasoner scored 13 for the Rams.  H-TU’s Andy Laitinen led all scorers with 25 points while Christopher Wilson added 19.

The Rams will return to action on Thursday, February 16, when they travel to Laredo, TX, to take on Texas A&M International University in Red River Athletic Conference action.  That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a women’s game.