COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU men's basketball notched their second consecutive double-digit conference win Thursday as the Rams defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 86-68. The win has huge postseason implications in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) as the Rams move to 11-9 in AAC play while TWU falls to 12-9 in the AAC. However, conference implications were overshadowed by a personal milestone as CIU's head coach Tony Stockman recorded his 200th career win. Stockman started his coaching career at Ohio Chrisitan University and is in his fourth year at the helm at CIU. He currently has an all-time record of 200-118.
Stockman's team came out ready to play Thursday as CIU went up by ten 25-15 with 7:12 left in the first half. Six minutes later, the Rams grew their lead on a Christian Howard and-one seizing a 34-21 advantage and then carried the momentum into a 38-23 lead at the break.
Skyler McKinney, who stayed red hot almost the entire game, put the Bulldogs in a 21-point deficit (48-27) on a triple early in the second half. The Rams continued to keep their foot on the gas in the game's final 15 minutes, with their largest lead checking in at 23-points (68-45) on a Darrian Oates 3-pointer at the 9:25 mark. CIU fended off any Bulldog comeback attempt down the stretch and cruised to a 86-68 win.
Skyler McKinney led the Rams playing one of his best games of the year, going 9-of-14 from the field, scoring 27 points. McKinney went 7-of-7 from the line and pulled down seven boards.
Bryce Causey also went perfect from the line (4-4) on his way to 15 points and five rebounds.
Freshmen Christian Howard and Jaylon Jeter each got into double-figures as Howard shot 70% from the field, scoring 15, while Jeter scored 11 points knocking down two threes.
CIU shot over 50% from the field for the second straight game as they went 30-of-59 as a team.
Hear from head coach Tony Stockman postgame:
Up next:
The Rams will try to avenge a recent loss to Truett McConnell as they head to Cleveland, Ga. on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a 4 PM matchup with the Bears.
