SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 4 Angelo State men's basketball team fell to Texas A&M – Commerce, 93-88, at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center on Saturday evening.

Despite having four players that scored in double-digits, slid to 12-2 overall and 0-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Rams offense shot 42.3 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc for the game. The Lions improved to 12-2 and 2-0 in the LSC with the win.    

"It was very disappointing," said ASU head men's basketball coach Cinco Booone. "We can't give a team 93 points on our home court and expect to win. The Lone Star Conference is very tough and there are no easy games, but we know we are a good basketball team and we have had some really good wins. If we stay the course, take it one game at a time and get better day-to-day then we will have a chance. We are going to fix some things in practice and get ready for the next one."  

The Rams kept it close until the 11:22 mark in the first half when the Lions pulled away leading by as much as 15 points. The two teams would enter the half with TAMUC leading by a score of 52-38. Carrying it's momentum into the second the Lions increased the lead to a game high 19 points. This is when Shaquan Rhoades would hit a deep three that kicked off a 16-3 run and started ASU on a comeback. This run also saw buckets from Shelton Boykin, Thomas Tshikaya and Prince Foster. At the 7:09 mark, Tshikaya would sink a 3-ball that would bring score to even at 73 after trailing most of the game. The Rams would take a three point lead with 2:41 left in the game off a pair of Boykin foul shots. However, TAMUC would recover the lead and ASU would fall short in the end.

Tre Bennett and Tshikaya led the offense, both scoring 18 points for the game. Bennett was 6-11 from the field and 4-7 from the 3-point arc. He added two assists and a steal to his numbers for the evening. Tshikaya was 6-for-10 from inside the 3-point line and 2-4 from beyond, with the majority of his buckets coming in the second half. Defensively, he added seven boards, two blocks and two steals. Also recording double-figures for the Rams were forwards Steadman Allen (12) and Boykin (14).  In addition to a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line, Boykin pulled down a team second eight boards.

Omari Gudul and Prince Foster also made team leading contributions to ASU game efforts. Gudul led the ASU defense with 11 rebounds, a block and a steal for the game. He added five points and an assist to his numbers.  Foster tied the team lead with two blocks against the Lions and pulled down four boards for the night. Offensively, he led with four assists while also sinking a total of nine points.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday, January 13 at Stephens Arena in the Junbell Center to take on West Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m.