FORT WORTH --- The Wayland Baptist Pioneers battled for 40 minutes on the road Thursday night but fell just short in a 76–71 conference loss to (RV) Texas Wesleyan at the Sid Richardson Center.
Wayland Baptist opened the game with confidence on the offensive end and held a narrow 37–35 advantage at halftime. The Pioneers shot nearly 42 percent from the floor in the first half and used balanced scoring to stay in front through much of the opening period.
Jamari Lawrence led Wayland with 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while
Julian Perez provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and four assists.
Marcus Green and
Rico Yarbrough each added 10 points, helping the Pioneers maintain pressure throughout the contest.
The second half saw multiple lead changes as both teams traded baskets in a tightly contested matchup. Wayland Baptist briefly built a five-point lead midway through the period, but Texas Wesleyan answered with strong play in the paint and second-chance opportunities to regain momentum.
With the score tied late, the Rams capitalized at the free-throw line and on key possessions in the final minutes to pull away. Wayland continued to fight until the final horn but was unable to close the gap.
Wayland Baptist finished the game with 32 bench points and forced 16 turnovers, showing resilience against one of the conference's top teams. The Pioneers move forward looking to regroup quickly as they continue conference play.
Their next contest will come on Saturday, January 31
st, when they take on the NAIA's 8
th ranked team in the nation – the Nelson Lions. The game will be played in Waxahachie, Texas at approximately 4:00 PM.
