- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The No. 6 Texans looked to make it 14-1 on the year and remain undefeated in Lone Star Conference action Wednesday night against Angelo State. Tarleton used a big second half to do just that as they conquered the Rams, 76-55.
The Texans got off to a rough start as the Rams pulled out to an early 5-3 lead. It was still only an 8-3 ball game as the clock ticked past 13:00. By that point, Tarleton was 1-for-10 from the floor and desperately trying to find a flow offensively.
On the other end of the floor, the Texans were executing their game plan just as they had drawn up. Tarleton entered the game with the No. 1 defense in the nation and showed that by forcing multiple off-balanced shots and rushed turnovers.
The Texans found themselves down 10-5 before they started to finally mount a comeback. Their momentum shift was led by junior guard Brian Word, who hit a couple of big shots, picked up a pair of opportune steals and grabbed three rebounds.
Tarleton managed to tie the game back up at 12-12 with 8:56 left on the clock in the first half when Coleman Furst converted on a pair of free throws. A tip-in by Wes Dipprey at the 8:37 mark gave Tarleton their first lead of the game.
The Texans were able to quickly turn that 14-12 lead into a 20-15 advantage over the next minute and a half. Tarleton started to pull away and Angelo State became more and more frustrated on both ends of the floor.
With the momentum in their favor, the Texans capped off a 16-2 run and made it a 32-17 ball game. By halftime, Tarleton led by 17, 39-22.
At the break, the Texans were shooting 50 percent from the floor while holding the Rams to 33.3 percent shooting.
Word had a game-high nine points at halftime to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Wilson and Chris Harrell both added seven points and five players had at least three boards.
Javae King-Gilchrist was ASU's leading scorer with seven points.
Tarleton forced 10 turnovers while only committing four through the first 20 minutes.
The second half was all Texans as they kept the offense running on all cylinders.
Men's Basketball vs Angelo State Gallery
The 17-point lead at the break was increased to as large as 30 points by the 10:36 mark. Tarleton proved to be too much on both ends of the floor for the Rams and ASU failed to get back within double-digits the rest of the game.
The Texans pushed the tempo for all 20 minutes of the second half to make sure the Rams were not within striking distance.
In the end, Tarleton picked up their 11th straight victory by defeating ASU 76-55.
Overall, the Texans shot 50.9 percent from the floor and forced 16 Ram turnovers.
Wilson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in 20 minutes of action. Word finished with 14 points and five assists while Harrell added 12 points and Furst added 11 points.
King-Gilchrist gave ASU a 15-point, nine-rebound performance. The Rams shot just 38.3 percent from the field.
Tarleton also outscored ASU 23-8 off the bench and 30-22 in the paint.
Associate head coach Chris Reisman talked about the win after the game.
“I thought it was three segments,” said Reisman. “We came out sluggish and the intensity wasn't there. We got into the flow of the game starting at the eight minute mark of the first half. Then we started to relax. We just have to stop the sloppy play and make them for work for the opportunities. That's how our offense works.”
The Texans are now 14-1 on the year and 6-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
Tarleton heads back out on the road to take on the Wildcats of Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.
For more information regarding the 2011-12 Tarleton men's basketball campaign, check out TarletonSports.com.
