SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team will remain at home this week as it plays host to Cameron University on Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Midwestern State University on Saturday, February, 4 at 4 p.m.
The Rams, who will be looking to end a two game slide, currently sit at 12-6 overall and 4-6 in the Lone Star Conference this season. ASU continues to remain in the national top 10 in blocked shots per game (5.3), defensive boards per game (30.79), field goal percentage defense (38.6%) and three point field goal defense (27.6%). The offense also continues to lead the LSC in three point field goal percentage, sinking 36.5 percent of its deep balls.
Cameron, who will also be looking to stop a two game skid, travels to San Angelo with a 13-8, 6-5 LSC record and sits ahead of the eighth place Rams at the sixth in the LSC. The last time the two squads faced off, ASU came away from Lawton, Oklahoma with an 81-77 victory. The Rams own the all-time series record, 26-17, between the two teams.
Saturday's game against the Mustang's has been declared a "Gold Out," and students and fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game. MSU will also be looking to recover from its last loss, which came at the hands of No.14 Tarleton State by a close score of 77-72. In the last meeting between the Rams and Mustang's, ASU recorded its first LSC victory of the 2016-17 season downing MSU, 75-72, in Wichita Falls. Angelo State continues to trail the all-time series, 25-47.
Quay King continues to lead the ASU offense as he has ascended to No. 1 in the LSC scoring an average of 19.9 points per game. The guard also continues to mark double-digit points and has done so in every game this season for the Rams. Despite shooting a below average number of 3-point balls in the past two games for ASU, the senior continues to head the LSC with an average of four three pointers per game. This has also allowed King to remain in the national top five (3) in the category.
Also aiding in the Rams offensive production have been DeVonte' Pratt and Napoleon Onyeje Jr. The Ohio native is averaging 10 points per game and has marked double-digit points in six of his last seven games. The senior heads the team's defense with 22 steals this year. Onyeje Jr. continues to improve as he secured his first two start of the season for ASU along with a steadily increase of minutes on the court throughout the season. The senior has increased his assists average to 3.1 assists per game from the point guard position.
Heading the ASU defense will be Thomas Tshikaya, Brandon Williams and Justin Hollins. Tshikaya heads the defensive group with an average of 8.9 rebounds per game. The native of France has also made solid contributions to the offensive side of the ball increasing his average points per game to 11. Williams checks in second on the squad, pulling down an average of 4.8 blocks per game. He has recorded nine blocks on the season and has assisted the offense dropping in 10 points per game. Finally, Hollins has assisted the Rams defense maintain its top 10 national ranking in blocked shots per game as he continues to lead ASU and the Lone Star Conference with 33 total blocks this season, which averages him 2.2 per game.
Returning to action, Prince Foster will also be looking to get back in the swing of things. Foster made his first appearance since early December in last week's home match-up with TAMUK. The senior was a force on both side of the ball before his absence and led the led the Rams in steal in his first game back. Despite being out for several weeks, he has remained in the top echelon of Rams scorers this season with an average of 9.7 points per game having scored in double –figures in six of his 10 games played.
Providing depth to ASU will be Chase Riley, DeVaughn Jenkins and Shaquan Rhoades. Riley has improved his shooting game as he is now hitting 46.9 percent of his sort range shots, 60.0 percent of his 3-Pointers and 76.9 percent of his shots from the free throw line. Jenkins, who has also increased his time on the court over the past several games, is shooting 40 percent from inside the arc and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe. Rhoades has also helped the Rams off the bench as he has hit 47.6 percent and 70 percent from the foul line.
Both games will be broadcasted live and in high definition by RamTV (Suddenlink channel 6/106HD) and live on 1260AM KKSA with Jeremy Bryant on the call.
