Panola College men's basketball coach watches his team on the sideline in Wednesday's Region XIV Conference game against Tyler. (Carlee Permenter/Panola Watchman)

TYLER — After seeing an eight spot increase in the latest NJCAA Division I top 25 rankings, the Panola College men’s basketball team — the No. 9 ranked team in the country — wanted to show why they were worthy of such a high jump.

Panola did just that and won their first road game since Dec. 7.

CJ Worsham had a double-double including a game-high 18 points to go along with a game-high 10 rebounds as Panola blew past host Tyler 77-55 in a Region XIV Conference game on Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

“Overall it was a collective effort,” Panola Coach Joe Kuligoski said. “I thought our guys listened to the scout and we defended them really well. When you hold a team to 55 on the road you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Panola (14-4 overall, 7-3 Region XIV) came in with the game plan of slowing down Tyler’s big three of Chris Uwayo Jr., Caden Bell and Joey Brown all of whom came into the game averaging 13 points per game.

Uwayo Jr. scored a team-high 15 points but Panola held Bell to five points and Brown to just two in the game.

“I thought we did a good job defensively Kuligoski said. “I think they have one of the best big three’s in the league with (Uwayo Jr.), (Bell) and (Brown) so that was the key to the game. We didn’t want their three guys who average 13 a game to go off and try to make the role players beat us.”

The Ponies broke an 11-1 tie and were off to the races from that point on as Panola went on a 8-2 run and only increased their lead from there.

Panola went into the half leading Tyler 41-24 and even after having four different players combine to hit five 3s in the first half, it was Worsham who led the Ponies with 10 first half points.

The 6-foot-7 freshman from Chicago was oversized against Tyler’s bigs down low and it didn’t stop Worsham from enforcing his will.

“They have size but CJ has heart,” Kuligoski said. “That’s all that matters. He competes, he doesn’t care if you’re 6-foot-10 or 7’0 he’s going to go in your chest and try and score every time. We’re really lucky to have CJ and I’ll go to war with that dude every night.”

Worsham plays an old school style where he’s more than happy to catch the ball on the block with his back to the basket and earn points the old fashion way.

“It’s just angles,” Worsham said. “Teams can pack it in all they want but its angles and touches. I feel like a lot of guys don’t have that anymore and I’m trying to bring that back. Old school brand of basketball dudes thought it was dead and it’s clearly not dead because I’m doing it every night.”

Jaylen Drane came off the bench and scored 12 points with four assists, Travis Torain scored 10 points with six rebounds, Enel St. Bernard scored nine points with eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks while Khoi Thurmon and Cliff Robinson III each scored seven points with both adding six assists.

Panola shot 52 percent from the field and hit eight 3-pointers in the game.

“It feels good mainly because we are back in our groove,” St. Bernard said. “After last game I felt like we are back to playing like we normally play. Everybody is sharing the ball and we look to (Worsham) to set the tone. He’s the enforcer inside and he sets the tone from start to finish and I don’t think anyone can guard him one-on-one.”

Tyler (11-7, 5-5) came into the game off a tough 86-76 overtime loss at Lee on Saturday, got within 14 points three minutes into the second half, but was not able to get the deficit down into single digits.

Siul Murillo came off the bench and scored 11 point, Luis Gil scored seven points while Josiah Hill scored five points with seven rebounds for the Apaches.

Ever since dropping back-to-back road games at Angelina and Navarro two weeks ago, the Ponies have gotten back to playing their brand of basketball.

“If we are going to have a shot to even come close to winning the league you have to steal road games,” Kuligoski said. “We needed this one tonight and we’ll celebrate this one tonight but then we have to figure out how to win at Kilgore and which will be really hard.”

Panola will visit Kilgore on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Ponies confidence is sky high and when Panola is getting production from so many it makes them very, very hard to beat.

“I’m not trying to sound cocky but I know my team and when everybody is on we’re lethal,” Worsham said. “I know my team and the guys I have and I know what happens on a given night when everybody is rolling and clicking.”

Tyler will visit Blinn on Saturday at 4 p.m.

For the Ponies it hasn’t been about a certain player or two catching fire it’s been Panola going back to their calling card.

“For our team it starts on defense,” St. Bernard said. “These last couple of weeks has us been focusing on playing Panola defense. Getting teams down a lot, getting run outs and getting stops and playing off of that.”