SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team fell just short against the second best team in the Lone Star Conference, losing 93-90 to Texas Permian Basin in the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center.
The Rams (14-9, 6-9 LSC) had five different players reach the double-digit scoring mark against the Falcons (20-5, 11-4 LSC) including a season-high 22 points from Prince Foster.
Foster scored more than 20 points for the first time all season, leading the Rams in scoring and added in a team-high seven assists. Quay King came next with 19 points, Brandon Williams followed with 17, DeVonte' Pratt scored 15 and Thomas Tshikaya rounded out the double-digit scoring group with 13 points of his own. Overall, the Rams shot 46 percent from the field.
Defensively, Williams led the way with a career-high five blocks and added in a team-high eight rebounds as well. Tshikaya added in seven rebounds of his own, and Foster had five to lead the Rams.
UTPB opened the game hot, scoring 11 of the game's first 15 points for an early lead. A three-pointer from King followed by a steal and a breakaway dunk from Foster cut the lead back to three, however, just seven minutes into the game.
Back-to-back three pointers from Pratt with 11:48 remaining gave ASU its first lead of the game at 19-18. UTPB responded with an 11-4 run to retake the lead. The Falcons went up by 10 with 4:56 left to play in the half, but the Rams closed the opening period on a 7-2 run to head into the locker room down just two.
Four straight free throws from Michael Thomas and King to open the second half gave the Rams another small lead, but the Falcons put up another big run to jump out in front once again. ASU kept the game close the second half, tying things up at 70 apiece with 10:56 left to play. A minute later the Rams went up by three for their biggest lead of the game.
UTPB closed out the win by hitting free throws, securing the three-point win.
The Rams will be back at home at 4 p.m. Saturday for the final game of the season in the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center for a matchup with West Texas A&M.
