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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team |
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| 6 | 7 | | furthered its tradition of success on the hardwood by winning the |
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| 7 | 8 | | National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division I |
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| 8 | 9 | | national championship on March 21, 2017, at Municipal Auditorium in |
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| 9 | 10 | | Kansas City, Missouri; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The Rams' outstanding play began early in the |
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| 11 | 12 | | season, and they claimed the Sooner Athletic Conference regular |
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| 12 | 13 | | season crown with a stellar 13-5 record in conference play; taking |
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| 13 | 14 | | that momentum into the national tournament, the squad dispatched |
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| 14 | 15 | | opponents from the University of the Cumberlands, The Master's |
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| 15 | 16 | | University, Dalton State College, and William Penn University to |
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| 16 | 17 | | set up a championship battle against Life University; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Taking charge from the outset, the Rams established |
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| 18 | 19 | | a commanding 35-23 lead in the first half; they then held off a |
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| 19 | 20 | | resurgent Eagles offense after the intermission to win by a final |
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| 20 | 21 | | score of 86-76, claiming the second national title in the |
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| 21 | 22 | | university's history; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Pacing the group was senior guard Dion Rogers, who |
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| 23 | 24 | | received the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player Award after tallying |
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| 24 | 25 | | 28 points and 8 rebounds; he was joined on the All-Tournament Team |
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| 25 | 26 | | by fellow Rams Najeal Young, a senior guard, and Ryan Harris, a |
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| 26 | 27 | | junior guard; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Throughout the season, the squad also received |
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| 28 | 29 | | valuable contributions from the other members of the roster: Chier |
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| 29 | 30 | | Ajou, Pat Listach, Naiel Smith, Jalil Francois, Trevon Jeffery, |
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| 30 | 31 | | Chris Alexander, Praneeth Udumalagala, Demarcus Emanuel, Jeremy |
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| 31 | 32 | | Crane, Peyton Prudhomme, Shaun Rost, and Jacob Lopez; these |
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| 32 | 33 | | exceptional athletes benefited from the skilled guidance of head |
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| 33 | 34 | | coach Brennen Shingleton, associate head coach Matt Garnett, |
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| 34 | 35 | | assistant coach Orlando Carrillo, and student assistants Larry |
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| 35 | 36 | | Wilson and Sam Akano; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Winning a national championship represents the |
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| 37 | 38 | | culmination of countless hours of training and an unwavering |
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| 38 | 39 | | commitment to excellence, and the members of the Texas Wesleyan |
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| 39 | 40 | | University basketball team will carry the memory of this |
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| 40 | 41 | | accomplishment with them for the rest of their lives; now, |
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| 41 | 42 | | therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas Wesleyan University |
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| 44 | 45 | | men's basketball team on winning the 2017 NAIA Division I national |
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| 45 | 46 | | championship and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff |
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| 46 | 47 | | sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for the Rams as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | House of Representatives. |
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