SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State basketball team returns to action at 8 p.m. on Tuesday with a non-conference game against Arlington Baptist at the Junell Center following a 53-point win over McMurry last Friday.

The Rams (9-1) lead the nation with their 55.6 field-goal percentage and 28.2 scoring margin and enter Tuesday's game with a 6-0 record at home this season and a 17-2 home record over the past two seasons. ASU, which is on a four-game winning streak, is averaging 90.5 points per game this season and 93.8 points per game on its home court. The Patriots (3-6) are coming off a 99-84 loss to Houston Baptist.

"Arlington Baptist has some talented players from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area," ASU head coach Chris Beard said. "Everyone has talent and athletes in college basketball. You have to play your best each game in order to have a chance to win. Arlington Baptist was very competitive in their recent game with Houston Baptist (NCAA Division 1). We expect them to play well on Tuesday night."

Angelo State is prominent in the national statistical rankings which has them leading in field-goal percentage and scoring margin along with being third in total steals (107) and assists (203). The Rams, who have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 563-380 this season, are seventh in the nation with 20.3 assists per game 15th in total rebounds (399). The team's 90.5 points per game ranks 13th among the 294 NCAA Division II programs. The Rams are currently receiving votes in the NABC and D2SIDA Media Poll, but are currently unranked going into the release of both polls on Tuesday.

ASU will also host Arkansas-Monticello at 2 p.m. on Saturday before going on a two-week break from competition during the holidays. The Rams will come off the break to play York College on Saturday, Jan. 3 at home before opening Lone Star Conference play against Tarleton State on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Junell Center.
 
RAM ROSTER REPORT
Chris Jones, who has earned one LSC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honor this season, is coming off an 18-point, six assist game at McMurry and leads the Rams and conference with 53 assists and 27 steals this season. He is currently seventh in the nation with his steals total and 19th in assists. A senior from Dallas, Jones is second on the team with 15.6 points per game and has scored in double-digits in nine of 10 games. He leads the conference by shooting 64.4 percent from the field and with 5.3 assists per game. Jones has recorded five or more assists in five games this season with two games with eight assists. His season-high in scoring came in 23 point games against Texas-Permian Basin and Western State Colorado.

Demario Mayfield continues to lead the Rams with 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in his senior season. Mayfield is coming off his fourth double-double of the season after recording a season-best 14 rebounds and scoring 11 points in the win over McMurry. He has scored in double-figures in eight of 10 games this season, including scoring 20 or more points in a team-leading four games. His scoring average ranks fourth in the conference and he is shooting 56.1 percent from the field.  

Marsell Holden leads the Rams and the conference by hitting on 23 3-pointers this season and is third on the team with 12.5 points per game. He hit two 3-pointers in the win over McMurry and scored 11 points. Raijon Kelly is fourth on the team with 9.7 points per game after also scoring 11 points against the War Hawks. Kelly is shooting 60.6 percent from the field this season (40 of 66) and has scored in double-figures in the past three games. Kelly is second on the team and in the conference with 41 assists this season and has also added eight steals to his stat sheet.

Omari Gudul is coming off his best game of the season where he went for 15 points and eight rebounds against McMurry. Gudul, who is in his second season at ASU, is averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game is tied with Bilal Richardson with seven blocked shots this season. Richardson is also averaging 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while Brentine Taylor is averaging 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Taylor has started the last two games and is coming off a career-high where he scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds against McMurry. He is shooting 74.2 percent from the field this season by making 23 of 31 shots.

DeQuavious Wagner, Thomas Brandsma, Tommy Woolridge and Dakota Rawls are all adding to the depth of the Ram roster this season. Wagner, who is in his first season at ASU after transferring from Arkansas, is averaging 4.4 points per game and has added 17 assists for the Rams. Brandsma is averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds, while Woolridge is at 3.7 points and Rawls at 2.6 points per game. Woolridge has hit seven 3-pointers this season and has 44 in his two seasons at ASU.