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SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team hosts its home opener at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in a non-conference game against Arlington Baptist College at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.

The Rams (2-0) are coming off two wins last weekend at the SWOSU Classic in Weatherford, Okla. with a 72-62 victory over East Central University followed by a 67-65 win against Southwestern Oklahoma State on its home court. ASU will also host York College at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Junell Center after playing the Patriots who are opening their season on Tuesday.

"This is an important week for our team," ASU head coach Chris Beard said. "Our approach is the most important game of the season is the next game on the schedule. Our players are looking forward to playing at home on our home court.  We have two games and three practices this week and our focus continues to be to improve daily."

Angelo State went 5-6 at home last season and will look to win its first three games of the season for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign. The Rams, who have already surpassed their road win total of last season, finished last weekend shooting 49 percent from the floor on offense and limiting their opponents to 36 percent.

"It is a common theme in sports to fight back and respond after some adversity," Beard said. "Equally important, is how a team handles success. Our team won two games this past weekend but that is over now. It's all about the next game on the schedule.  Our players need to understand that and respond this week at home."

Kenny Williams leads the Rams through the first two games of the season with 18 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Williams opened the season with 28 points and 10 rebounds against East Central University and then scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win over Southwestern Oklahoma. The senior forward is shooting 62 percent from the floor and has made 5 of 6 shots from the free-throw line.

Skinner scored 11 points against ECU and followed with a 13-point effort against SWOSU on Saturday. The junior also grabbed six rebounds in the win over SWOSU and has nine rebounds after the first two games. He is also 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Bryan Hammond and Tommy Woolridge are both averaging 9.5 points per game with Hammond leading the team with 11 assists. Woolridge is coming off a 16-point effort against SWOSU where he hit the game-winning shot with three seconds remaining. A junior from Chicago, Woolridge has three assists per game and is shooting 41 percent from the floor. Hammond scored eight points against ECU before dropping 11 in the win over SWOSU. He is also averaging three rebounds per game and is 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.

Reggie Sutton is averaging 5.5 points per game after scoring 11 points in the opener against ECU, while Ryan Marsh is coming off a six-point game against SWOSU where he also secured four rebounds. Chris Talkington, who is the Rams' leading returning scorer after scoring 10.7 points per game as a junior, scored three points against SWOSU and two against ECU in the first weekend of his senior season. Thomas Brandsma scored six points against SWOSU and two against ECU in the first two games of his sophomore season at ASU after transferring from McMurry along with Williams.

Angelo State is 3-0 all-time against Arlington Baptist College coming into the game after earning a 95-68 win over the Patriots in the second game of last season. ABC is coached by Clifton McDaniel and has two seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen on its roster. Sophomore guard Johnny Shrake scored 20 points and had four assists last season against the Rams, while junior center Hugo Rodriguez scored 11 points and had six points.

"Everyone in college basketball today has talented players and athletes," Beard said. "You have to play well and execute to have a chance to win."
 
MEDIA: The game will broadcasted on KKSA with play-by-play from Jeremy Bryant with an internet simulcast on AngeloSports.com. The game will also be live video stream on AngeloSports.com for $5.95. Get instant updates at with live stats and other game information at www.twitter.com/AngeloSports.