HOUSTON, Texas - The Angelo State men's basketball team fell short in its second exhibition game of the season against the University of Houston, 84-72, on Wednesday evening.

"We thought our team competed well as a group tonight and were pleased with their effort," stated ASU Head Men's Basketball Coach Cinco Boone. "Our turnovers and our fouls are something we are going to have to correct but we will watch the tape and learn from this game. Both of these exhibition games were scheduled to show our team in order to show our team exactly what we need to improve on." This team has learned much and improved immensely since the November 2 exhibition game against Texas. Hopefully, we learn just as much from this University of Houston game in the next few days to help us further down the line this season."

Rams, Lorenzo Dillard, Prince Foster, Quay King and Thomas Tshikaya, led the way for the Rams offense posting double-figure points against the Cougars.  Dillard, who recorded a team high 18 points, was 4-5 from short range, while knocking down 10-12 shots from the charity stripe. Foster followed posting 14 points. The senior out of Miami, Florida was 3-4 from inside the arc, 7-8 on free throws and stroked one from long distance. Defensively, he led the squad with eight total boards and a pocketed a pair of steals for the night. King marked 13 points hitting a team most three shots from beyond the arc. Tshikaya rounded out the group with 11 points. He also pulled down four defensive boards and added a steal to his numbers.

Also turning in solid performances for ASU Wednesday night was DeVonte' Pratt and Gustavs Puhovs. Pratt came away with a team second five boards and a steal, while Puhovs inked eight points and a pair of steals.

With a 13-3 run, the Rams took an early lead over the cougars. However, UH would return the favor and bring the game to and even 13 at the 13:19 mark in the first half. Tshikaya would set ASU back on track with a jumper, which would be followed by a pair of King free throws that would put the Rams back up by four at the 12:40 point. A deep three from King at the 6:04 mark would give Angelo State its largest lead of the night at 33-20. As the half was coming to an end, Kevin Booze would swish a pair of free throws to send the two teams into halftime with a score of 39-32 on the board in favor of the Rams.

Despite an early Tshikaya 3-pointer and another pair of free throws from Booze, Houston's halftime adjustments would prove to be too much for the Rams as they embarked on a 27-5 run to open the second half. At the 9:24 mark in the second half and the score sitting at 64-46, Foster would line up a short jumper to kick start a 10-2 Rams run. The cougars would hold on to its lead, despite a late surge of free throw points from ASU and came away with the win.

The Rams return to San Angelo on Saturday, November 19 at 8 p.m. when it will kick off the Ed Messbarger Tipoff Classic with Houston - Tillotson.