ATHENS, Tenn. - CIU men's basketball ended up on the wrong side of an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest on Saturday afternoon. CIU dropped their second conference game of the season on the road to Tennessee Wesleyan 80-76. With the loss, the Rams move to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. 

Things started poorly for CIU as the Bulldogs opened the game on a 12-1 run before the Rams began to right the ship. The Rams battled back and cut the lead to 22-20 on a DiAnthony Heathcock jumper with 7:49 remaining in the first half. CIU would keep it close all the until break trailing just 37-33 at the half. JJ Vaughan led the Rams off the bench with nine-points going 3-of-5 from deep in the first 20 minutes of action. 

The Rams did their best to keep the game within reach but fell behind 11-points 69-58 at the 6:42 mark. However, CIU would not go away as Jalen Brinson cut the deficit to 75-71 (1:17) on a pair of free throws. Then with just five seconds remaining, Brinson trimmed the advantage down to just 78-76 on an and-one layup. It was too little too late, however, as the Bulldogs sealed the game at the free throw line for the four-point victory. 

Heathcock picked up a double-double with 18-points on 80% shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds. The Rams had two others in double-figures, with Brinson collecting 10-points and Skyler McKinney putting up 13. 

The Rams shot a respectable 45% from the field but struggled defensively, allowing the Bulldogs to record a 53% field percentage. 

Up Next: CIU will host St. Andrews (N.C.) on Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Moore Fitness Center at 7:30 PM.