 "Photo: Courtesy Wesleyan Athletics")
The Texas Wesleyan men’s basketball team lost in the semifinals of the Red River Athletic Conference basketball tournament, 78-64 to Bacone College.
“We knew Bacone was a good team and had been playing very well,” said Head Coach Terry Waldrop. “We expected to compete at a high level that afternoon.”
The Rams were the No. 1 seed in the tournament and knocked out hosting team Southwestern Assemblies of God University in the quarterfinals with a 76-72 victory.
Fifth-seeded Bacone College won the RRAC tournament after defeating Texas College, 86-85 in the final.
After the championship game, two Rams were announced to the RRAC men’s basketball all-tournament team.
Jeremy Smith, junior guard, was named all tournament, scoring 29 points in the tournament. Senior forward Jamel White was also named all tournament, scoring 28 points, with eight rebounds and six assists.
“I am proud to be a member of the all-tournament team, but now it’s about our team taking advantage of every opportunity to get better for nationals,” White said.
The Rams will have less than two weeks to bounce back from the loss. “Hopefully we can use the loss as a learning experience and it will help us refocus as we prepare for the biggest stage of all,” Waldrop said.
Although the Ram’s didn’t win the conference tournament, they won the regular season championship and earned an automatic bid to the 73rd Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA national tournament in Kansas City, March 17-23.
Bacone College won the conference tournament and is also headed to the national tournament with the Rams.
In conference play, the Rams split wins with Bacone. At home, the Rams beat Bacone 78-71, but lost in Waxahachie 70-67.
“We have to have the mindset that our regular season is over now, and if we lose, we are out,” White said. “We have to play each game like it’s our last.”
According to Waldrop, the team’s top competitor in the national tournament needs to be itself.
“The men will have to work hard to do well in Kansas,” Waldrop said. “We are a team. If we can quickly grasp that we need to work together, then our time in the tournament can be very interesting and fulfilling.”
The NAIA national tournament is a 32-team single elimination tournament. The bracket announcement will be live at 4 p.m. March 10 on College Fanz TV.
“We want to compete at a high level in the national tournament and represent Wesleyan the way our previous teams have, with class and tremendous effort,” Waldrop said.
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