RAMS TO HOST CLIFFORD CHRISTMAS CLASSIC:

ESHON NAMED RRAC P.O.W.
December 11, 2007

FORT WORTH, TX:  Texas Wesleyan University's Fred Eshon has been named Red River Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week for the period of December 3-9.  Eshon and the Rams are hosting the first annual Clifford Christmas Classic this Friday and Saturday.

Eshon, a senior guard from Houston, TX, posted double-figures in scoring in both games for the Rams last week.  He pourd in a career-high 23 points as Texas Wesleyan suffered a 63-52 loss to the NAIA's 10th ranked team, Xavier University (LA).  Eshon also contributed 13 points in a 73-67 win against Bacone College in the Rams' conference opener.  He mad 8-of-14 shots from the field (57.1%) and 16-of-18 free throw attempts (89%).

Eshon shared the award with Huston-Tillotson University's Titus Butler who scored a career-high 25 points against Tulane University as HTU fell to 0-6 on the season.

After a 72-68 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Monday, the Rams stand at 5-3 on the season.  This weekend they are hosting one of the top NAIA Christmas Classics in the country.

The Rams have named their event the Clifford Christmas Classic in honor of long-time Texas Wesleyan supporters Patsy and Marty Clifford who have given much of their time, energy, and passion to the University for many years.  Texas Wesleyan lost a beloved member of its family this fall with the passing of Marty Clifford, a member of the 1951-52 men’s basketball team.

“It is befitting to have a tournament of this quality and this magnitude named after such loyal supporters,” commented head coach Terry Waldrop.  “The Clifford Christmas Classic will serve as an ongoing legacy to their support of Texas Wesleyan University.”

The four-team field currently holds a combined record of 27-10.  Fifth ranked LSU-Shreveport (NAIA Division I) enters the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record.  Belhaven College should move up from 31st in the NAIA poll after an 8-1 start.  The two local teams in the field should be up to the challenge.  The 2006 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Champion Rams are off to a 5-3 start while 2006 National Tournament participant Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Waxahachie, TX) is 5-6 this season.