SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team dropped its first game of the 2017-18 season Saturday night in the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center, falling 69-65.
The Rams (6-1) had a pair of players finish with double-digit points on the night including Ja'Michael Brown and James Kirksey, but were unable to overcome as strong second-half shooting effort from the Chaps.
ASU jumped out to an early lead in the first half, scoring the game's first nine points before Lubbock Christian finally got a bucket three minutes in. Ja'Michael Brown led the early charge from the Rams, racking up 12 points in the first seven minutes of the matchup.
Brown ended the game with 24 points, just six off his career-high set earlier this week, and had a pair of assists as well.
LCU climbed out of its early hole, pulling within three points six minutes into the game and keeping the ASU lead to just single digits the entire first half. Timely baskets from Brandon Williams, Antonio Singleton and James Kirksey kept the Rams out in front.
With just over five minutes to play in the opening half though, the Chaps got a layup to close the gap to just two points. DeVaugn Jenkins kept ASU in front with a vicious dunk on the next Ram possession, and Ran Tut followed with a three-pointer a minute later to increase the lead again.
The Chaps refused to give up much in the way of a Ram run still, and the two teams headed into the locker room with ASU on top by four.
Angelo State got the first bucket of the second half as well on a jumper from Williams, but was mostly cold in the start of the second half, and Lubbock Christian took advantage. The Chaps hit a three-pointer with 16:40 to play in the half that gave them a two-point lead – their first of the night.
After almost two more minutes of play without an ASU basket, Brown took things into his own hands, scoring on three straight possessions and retaking the lead for the Rams with 14:08 to play.
The ASU lead did not last for long this time, as LCU tied the game back up just one minute later on a three-pointer. The Chaps had a strong night from behind the arc, hitting 7 of 17 three-point shots.
Lubbock Christian went on to open up the first double-digit lead of the night with just under 10 minutes to play, forcing an Angelo State timeout. LCU got another score out of the timeout to its widest margin of 12 points, but ASU responded with a quick 7-0 run capped off by a layup with the foul from James Kirksey with just over eight minutes left.
Kirksey was not the top Ram scorer on the night, but finished with his first career double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
The Rams continued to claw back into the game, playing stifling defense and closing the gap to just three points on a tip-in from Kirksey with 1:14 left. The scored forced a timeout from the Chaps.
LCU hit a jumper and a free throw in the final minute to stay out in front, handing the Rams their first loss of the season.
Angelo State will be on the road next to open up Lone Star Conference play, taking on Texas A&M-Kingsville at 7:30 p.m.
