SAN ANGELO – The No. 4-ranked Angelo State Rams will take their program-record winning streak and highest national ranking into Stephenville for a national and Lone Star Conference showdown against No. 11 Tarleton State on Wednesday at Wisdom Gym.

Angelo State (21-1, 9-0 LSC) is 40-10 over the last two seasons under the leadership of head coach Chris Beard and associate head coach Cinco Boone and the Rams are currently only one win shy of matching the all-time single-season win record (22) which was previously accomplished in the 1983-84, 1987-88 and 2000-01 seasons. The No. 4 ranking is the first time ASU has been ranked in the NABC top-5 in program history and it is the 17th overall time the Rams have been ranked. The Rams are on a program-record 16-game winning streak which includes earning a pair of victories over West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico last week, while Tarleton State (20-2, 7-2 LSC) is on a seven-game streak after wins over Midwestern State and Cameron last week. ASU is 7-1 away from San Angelo this season with its lone loss coming in a 70-67 defeat to Colorado Mesa on Nov. 28, 2014 in Grand Junction, Colorado in its first road game of the season.

The Rams have since run off their 16-game winning streak, which includes four conference road wins, by an average scoring-margin advantage of 25.8 points per game. ASU leads the Lone Star Conference standings by two games over the Texans and Midwestern State (18-5, 7-2 LSC) with five conference games remaining on its schedule. MSU will play West Texas A&M and ENMU this week before travelling to play the Rams on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Junell Center.

ASU handed the Texans their first loss of the season with a 78-60 win on Jan. 7 at the Junell Center. The Rams, who led 35-28 at halftime, snapped a 12-game winning streak by TSU to open its season. The Texans were the No. 3-ranked team in the nation at the time, becoming the highest ranked team that ASU has beat in its program history. Wins in Stephenville have always been tough for the Rams in program history with the Texans winning the past 11 games over ASU at the Wisdom Gym. ASU has not won a game in Stephenville since a 64-47 victory on Feb. 8, 2001. ASU came close to breaking that streak in 2007, but dropped a 76-73 overtime decision. The Rams fell 80-54 to the Texans last season in Stephenville. A win by the Rams would be the eighth time in program history that ASU has beat TSU twice in a season and the first regular-season sweep over the Texans since the 2000-01 campaign.  

The Rams are 3-0 against top-25 teams this season, including knocking off TSU when it was ranked No. 3, topping Midwestern State 72-55 when the Mustangs were No. 23 and then taking down Texas A&M-Commerce by 16 points a day after the Lions entered the national rankings at No. 25.

Angelo State is the NCAA Division II national statistics leaders with a 54.5 field-goal percentage and a 26.4 scoring margin advantage through its first 22 games of the season. The Rams are also third in the nation defensively by limiting opponents to a 37.8 field-goal percentage, are fifth with 422 total assists, sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.56) and seventh in scoring offense (89.1 ppg.) and rebounding margin (9.6). The team's 197 steals leads the conference along with its 4.3 turnover margin, assist-to-turnover ratio, assists per game (19.2), fewest turnovers (271), field-goal percentage, field-goal percentage defense, scoring margin, scoring offense, steals per game (9.0), total assists, total steals (197), turnovers per game (12.3) and won-lost percentage (95.5).  

The Rams have limited opponents to below 40-percent shooting in 13 games this season, including holding the Texans to a 34.5 field-goal percentage in the first meeting of the season. ASU has won 19 of its 21 games by double digits with its only two non-double-digit wins coming in nine-point victories over West Texas A&M and Arkansas Tech. ASU has shot over 50 percent in 17 games this season, including shooting 60.5 percent last Saturday at ENMU.
This will be ASU's first back-to-back road game since they had a three-game road trip which included games against Colorado Mesa, Western State Colorado and Western New Mexico. ASU will return to action with two straight home games starting with a 7 p.m. non-conference game on Friday against South Dakota School of Mines before hosting Midwestern State at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Junell Center.
 
ASU Program Records Within Sight
Most Wins in Program History
22-7 (1983-84)
22-11 (1987-88)
22-8 (2000-01)
21-1 (Current)
20-9 (2008-09)
 
Scoring Average
1. Current           89.1 ppg.
2. 1967-68           87.6 ppg.
3. 1993-94           86.0 ppg.
4. 1971-72           85.3 ppg.
5. 1974-75           84.3 ppg.
6. 1965-66           82.7 ppg.
 
Field-Goal Percentage
1. Current            .545
2. 1987-88           .527
3. 1983-84           .506
4. 1976-77           .492
5. 1974-75           .491
6. 1993-94           .489
7. 2013-14           .464
 
Winning Streaks
1. 16 games        Current
2. 10 games        2013-14
3. 9 games          1987-88
                            2000-01
4. 8 games          1986-87
 
RAMS IN THE ALL-TIME NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the NABC National Rankings: 18 times (No. 14, Jan. 2, 1984; No. 17, Jan. 9, 1984; No. 13, Jan. 16, 1984; No. 15, Jan. 23, 1984; No. 17, Jan. 30, 1984; No. 25, Feb. 26, 2001; No. 25, Jan. 28, 2002; No. 25, Dec. 16, 2008; No. 23, Feb. 24, 2009; No. 22, Dec. 10, 2013; No. 23, Nov. 25, 2014; No. 22, Dec. 27, 2014; No. 19, Jan. 6, 2015; No. 14, Jan. 13, 2015; No. 11, Jan. 20, 2015; No. 8, Jan. 27, 2015; No. 7, Feb. 3, 2015; No. 4, Feb. 10, 2015)
In the D2SIDA Media Poll National Rankings: 7 times (No. 16, Dec. 2, 2014, No. 19, Dec. 30, 2014; No. 15, Jan. 6, 2015; No. 10, Jan. 13, 2015; No. 8, Jan. 20, 2015; No. 6, Feb. 3, 2015; No. 4, Feb. 10, 2015)
 
ANGELO STATE RAM ROSTER REPORT
Chris Jones is averaging 15.7 points, 5.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Rams this season. Jones scored a season-best 25 points last Wednesday against West Texas A&M and then shot 7 of 8 from the field and scored 16 points in the win over ENMU on Saturday. A senior from Dallas, Jones has recorded four or more assists in 17 games, three or more steals in 13 games and has scored in double digits in 20 of 22 games. He has also scored 20 or more points in six games. Jones, who had a career-high 12 assists and seven steals against York College, is leading the LSC in assists, steals, field goals made (147) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.92). He is a three-time LSC Defensive Player of the Week and has one LSC Offensive Player of the Week honor on his senior resume. Jones is 12th in the nation with a 63.4 field-goal percentage after making 147 of his 232 shot attempts this season. He had six assists, four steals, 16 points and seven rebounds in the first game against Tarleton State this season.

Demario Mayfield averaged 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and six assists per game last week on his way to being named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. Mayfield, who was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago, had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists last Saturday in a 69-49 road win over Eastern New Mexico after going for 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in last Wednesday's 77-68 win over West Texas A&M at the Junell Center. The wins extended ASU's winning streak to a continued program-record 16 games and the team is now 21-1 with six regular-season games remaining. Mayfield, who went 14 of 20 (70.0 percent) from the field last week, now has two LSC offensive and defensive weekly awards on his resume this season.

A senior from Royston, Georgia, Mayfield is second in the Lone Star Conference in scoring and rebounding at 16.5 points and 8.0 per game, while he's also second in the LSC with 93 assists and is only trailing Jones who has his 111 assists this season. Mayfield leads the Rams with nine double-doubles and is one of only 10 players in the nation with a triple-double. He scored a season-best 23 points in games against Colorado Mesa, Western Colorado State and Texas-Permian Basin and has scored 20 or more points in eight games this season. One of the most consistent scorers in the nation, he has scored in double digits in 20 of 22 games this season and had a season-best 13 assists in his triple-double against Arlington Baptist where he scored 14 points and secured 10 rebounds.

Marsell Holden is second in the LSC with 63 3-pointers this season and is shooting 43.2 percent from beyond the arc. Holden is averaging 13.9 points per game and is 100 of 207 from the field in his senior season. A Farrell, Pennsylvania native, Holden played two seasons at San Jacinto College and one at Morehead State before transferring to ASU. Holden scored 16 points after going 3 of 6 on 3-pointers and 5 of 9 from the field in the first game against the Texans. He is coming off a pair of 11 point games last week and has hit three or more 3-pointers in 13 games this season. His 63 3-pointers are the most for a Ram in a season since LaMarshall Corbett hit 81 3-pointers in the 2009-10 season and he is only 11 3-pointers from matching Cedric Mason (1990-91) for fifth in program history for a season. The program single-season record for 3-pointers is 84 by Kenny Smith in the 2004-05 season.

Raijon Kelly is averaging 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the Rams in his senior season. Kelly, who played his first three collegiate seasons at Samford, scored 10 points and had five assists in the first game against the Texans. He scored a season-high 22 points on a 7 of 7 shooting performance against ENMU earlier this season at the Junell Center and has scored in double digits in 12 games this season. Kelly is ninth in the LSC with 75 assists and has also provided 18 steals. He is 30 of 34 (88.2 percent) from the free-throw line and has 82 rebounds. Kelly, who has started all 22 games this season, is shooting 56.3 percent from the field (90 of 160) and has hit 19 3-pointers.

Omari Gudul had eight points and seven rebounds against the Texans in the first game between the two teams and is averaging 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Gudul, who is shooting 65.7 percent (69 of 105) this season, has secured five or more rebounds in 13 games this season for the Rams. He had a season-high eight rebounds against McMurry and York College. Gudul is in his second season with ASU after playing his freshman season at Ranger College. He currently has 107 rebounds this season which is 11 rebounds shy of his 118 rebound total from last year. Gudul has scored in double-digits seven times this season, including a season-high 15 points in a non-conference game at McMurry. His scoring bests in LSC games came in 12-point efforts against Cameron and Texas A&M-Commerce. Bilal Richardson has started the past 10 games for the Rams and is averaging 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. An Atlanta native, Richardson recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 points against Arkansas-Monticello and has five double-digit scoring performances. Gudul leads ASU with 17 blocked shots, while Richardson has 16 blocks. Brentine Taylor is adding 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the Rams in his junior season and is shooting 57.5 percent from the field, while Thomas Brandsma is averaging 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 points per game.  Brandsma, who is in his second season at ASU after playing his freshman season at McMurry, scored his LSC-best eight points last Wednesday against WT after shooting 3-for-3 from the field and also hitting two free throws in 18 minutes.

Tommy Woolridge is adding 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in his senior season. A Chicago native, Woolridge transferred to ASU last season where he led the Rams with 37 3-pointers during his junior season. He has made 18 3-pointers this season and has scored exactly 100 points coming into Wednesday's game. Wooldridge had four points in the first game against Tarleton State and has also added 20 assists and 19 steals.

Angelo State In-Season Awards
LSC Defensive Player of the Week:   Chris Jones (11.18.2014)
LSC Offensive Player of the Week:   Demario Mayfield (12.1.2014)
LSC Offensive Player of the Week:   Chris Jones (12.8.2014)
LSC Offensive Player of the Week:   Marsell Holden (12.22/2014)
LSC Defensive Player of the Week:   Chris Jones (1.6.2015)
LSC Defensive Player of the Week:   Chris Jones (1.12.2015)
LSC Defensive Player of the Week:   Demario Mayfield (1.26.2015)
LSC Offensive Player of the Week:   Demario Mayfield (2.09.2015)
 
TARLETON STATE TEXAN REPORT
The Texans (20-2, 7-2 LSC) are on a seven-game winning streak following a 58-53 win at Midwestern State last Wednesday and then taking an 87-73 win over Cameron on Saturday at home. TSU is 14-1 on its home court this season with its lone loss coming to the Mustangs in a 78-76 game on Jan. 14. The only other loss in LSC play for the Texans came against the Rams at the Junell Center in the first conference game of the season for both teams.

Mo Lee leads the Texans this season with 13.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, including averaging 15.3 points per game in Lone Star Conference play. Lee was held to eight points on 3 of 10 shooting against the Rams in the first meeting between the two teams. TaShawn Mabry is score in overall scoring this season for TSU with 13.4 points per game, but is leading the Texans with 17.3 points per LSC game. He scored 13 points in the first game against the Rams and has also provided 4.7 rebounds per game.

Michael Hardge is adding 11.4 points per conference game and is at 10.5 points per game throughout the season. A point guard from Georgetown, Hardge led the Texans with 17 points after hitting three 3-pointers and going 4 of 5 from the free-throw line in the first game between the two teams. Hardge leads TSU with 86 assists and 32 steals this season. Malcolm Hamilton is adding 9.0 points per game overall and is down to 6.6 points per LSC game, while EJ Reed is averaging 7.8 points per game. Davene Carter, who is a contestant in this year's College Slam Dark Horse Dunker contest, is adding 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Carter leads Tarleton with 32 blocked shots this season. He was limited to four points and did not have a blocked shot in the first game against the Rams.

The Texans are currently scoring 76.7 points per game (73.2 LSC games) and are shooting 48.6 percent from the field. TSU owns a 15.4 scoring margin advantage with its only double-digit loss coming in the 18-point defeat to the Rams. Tarleton State will return to action on Saturday with a road game at Texas A&M-Kingsville after playing the Rams on Wednesday.