HOUSTON, Texas - The Angelo State men's basketball team fell in its final exhibition game of the 2017-18 season to the University of Houston by a score of 97-80 on Sunday afternoon.

The Rams hit 43.1 percent of its shots inside the arch and 36.4 percent of its long balls against the Cougars. The team also had four players drop in double-digits for the game, with James Kirksey (18) leading the way. Kiair Crouch turned in a team second 16 points, while Ja'Michael Brown and Will Adler followed with 13 each. Kirksey grabbed an ASU most five boards, Crouch headed the squad stroking a trio of long balls and Brown lead with six assists on the afternoon. Kirksey, Brown and Crouch all pocketed a pair of steals to head the team's defensive efforts.

"We continue to learn more about our team and it was no different against this opponent," commented ASU Head Men's Basketball Coach Cinco Boone. "We told our team at the half to treat the score as if it was 0-0. They responded well, winning the second half by nine point margin. After a slow start to the game, we felt like that was a positive for our team. For the second straight game we had multiple players in double-figures. These were four different individuals than the ones that scored double-digits in our last exhibition game, which shows the depth of our team and the multiple weapons in our arsenal. Both of these exhibitions showed us our weaknesses and what we will have to improve upon in the days to come. We stayed healthy throughout and are looking forward to next weekend when we open the season in Stephenville."  

The Cougars opened the game posting nine straight points. At the 16:59 mark, Forward Brandon Williams halted the run hitting a jumper for the first ASU points of the game. U of H would continue to increase its lead to 28 points with 51-23 on the board and 2:20 left in the first half. A Williams dunk, followed by a pair of shots from the charity line by Adler would close out the scoring for ASU as the Rams headed into the break trailing 53-27.

Adler would hit a jumper from within the paint to start the second half for ASU. With 12:39 on the clock and trailing 70-49, Crouch would score on a fast break to close the Cougars lead to inside 20 for the first time since the first half. Houston would once again build its lead back up, until with 2:27 left in the game, Adler added six points to the board for the Rams to close the gap to 18 points at 95-77. A Crouch shot from beyond the arch with 16 seconds left would end the scoring for the game.

Angelo State will kick off its regular season schedule as it heads to Stephenville, Texas to partake in the Tip-off Classic Conference Challenge. The Rams will see a pair of RMAC teams as it faces the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs on Friday, November 10 and Metro State on Saturday, November 11. Tip-offs for both games are set for 2 p.m. CT.