FORT WORTH – Wayland Baptist's Pioneers are looking forward to returning to Hutcherson Center next week after dropping their third-straight road game here Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 22 Texas Wesleyan, 90-47.
After falling to Southwestern Assemblies of God University by 30 on Thursday night in Waxahachie, the No. 6 Pioneers (8-4, 2-2 SAC) ran into another buzz saw in Texas Wesleyan (10-3, 3-1), which rolled over Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Thursday, 90-50.
Wayland never led against the Rams, who took an 8-2 lead to set the tone early. The Pioneers scored the next six before Texas Wesleyan went on an 11-0 run to begin pulling away.
The Rams ended the half with eight unanswered points to lead at the break, 40-22.
It didn't get any better in the second half for Wayland as Texas Wesleyan outscored the Pioneers, 57-28. The Rams' biggest lead was 51 on two occasions, 94-43 and 97-46, after a pair of 3-pointers with under two minutes to go.
While Wayland shot 35 percent (20-of-58) from the field, including just 4-of-20 (20 percent) from 3-point range, the Rams hit 61 percent overall (37-of-60) and 59 percent (13-of-22) from deep.
The Pioneers suffered 20 turnovers.
With 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting,
Jack Nobles was the only Wayland player in double figures. First-year junior transfer
Hunter Henderson ended with a career-high nine points and six rebounds.
Texas Wesleyan was led by Peyton Sailee's 26 points, seven better than his previous best this season. Sailee was 10-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-6 from long range. Joe Cook-Green finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, followed by Sam Lorenzen with 17 points (5-of-8 3s) and Davon Berry with 13.
It won't get any easier for the Pioneers when they return to Hutcherson Center to take on undefeated Mid-America Christian (13-0, 4-0) at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. The third-ranked Evangels took care of No. 10 John Brown on Saturday at home, 73-59. Wayland swept MACU last season en route to capturing the SAC regular-season title.
