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Rams Set to Host Conference-Leading Midwestern State


Jovan Austin
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SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team begins a four-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday against Midwestern State in a Lone Star Conference contest at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.

The Rams (3-8, 1-4 LSC) enter the game on a four-game losing streak, but are 3-1 in San Angelo this season. MSU (9-3, 5-0 LSC) are atop the LSC standings and are riding its third three-game winning streak of the season after edging out a win over Abilene Christian on Thursday.

Antonio Dye leads the Rams and is sixth in the conference in scoring with 13.6 points per game, while Jovan Austin is averaging 13, Chris Talkington 11.9 and Dakota Rawls 10.8. Rawls, a sophomore from Bronte, led ASU with 20 points on Wednesday in its loss at Cameron and is averaging 12.4 points per game in LSC play this season. Austin, a freshman from Grand Prairie, leads the Rams with 14 points per game through the first five conference contests and leads the team with 39 assists. Bryan Hammond is second on the team with 27 assists and Rawls has grabbed a team-leading 56 rebounds. Talkington, who has a team-leading 5.5 rebounds per game, has the Rams' only double-double of the season coming in a 13-point, 10-rebound performance against Minnesota-Duluth.

The Rams are shooting 38 percent from the field and 35 percent on 3-pointers through the first 11 games of the season. ASU leads the conference at the free-throw line at 68 percent (177 of 258) and turnover margin (plus-3.91). The team is third in 3-pointers made per game with 6.8.

Midwestern State has won its last three games and six of its last seven. The Mustangs are coming off a 72-71 home win over Abilene Christian on Thursday. MSU trailed 34-33 at halftime and by as many as nine in the second half. Kevin Grayer, who finished the game with six points, scored the game-winning layup with 17 seconds remaining to secure the victory and keep the Mustangs unblemished in conference play.

Corbin Thomas leads the Mustangs with 13.5 points per game this season and 7.8 rebounds. The 6-6 senior from Chicago also has a team-leading 15 blocks and was named the LSC's Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 11. Keith Spellman is scoring 13.3 points per game for the Mustangs, while Monzaigo Williams and Grayer are each averaging 11.5 points. Williams leads the team with 5.6 assists per game and 24 steals.

MSU is first in the conference with a plus-9 rebounding margin and second in scoring (74.8), steals (8.3 per game) and free-throw percentage (68 percent). The Mustangs are also third in blocks (4.1 per game).

MSU has won the last three NCAA DII South Central Regional Championships and holds a 41-22 all-time advantage over the Rams. ASU has lost the last three meetings with its last win coming in an 82-81 overtime victory on Jan. 12, 2011.

The game will be carried on KKSA 1260AM and simulcast on AngeloSports.com with Jeremy Bryant broadcasting the contest. ASU will host Texas-Permian Basin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Northwood University on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. The home stand ends on Wednesday, Jan. 16 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
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