PORTALES, New Mexico – The Angelo State men's basketball fell just short to Eastern New Mexico, 92-89, on Saturday evening.
Despite Antonio Singleton sinking a team high 33 points, the Rams slide to 13-5 overall and 5-4 in the Lone Star Conference. This marked the second 30-point game by a single player this season and the most points scored by any player this season. Also scoring double-figures, he was joined by James Kirksey (13), Daron Mims (10) and Davion Cole-Johnson, who scored a career high 14 points. The Rams headed the opposition in points off turnovers (28-15), points in the paint (34-28) and fast break points (12-6)
Senior, Brandon Williams, led the ASU defensive efforts pulling down a team leading seven board and three blocks. ASU was out rebounded by ENMU, 42-35 for the game. Singleton and Kirksey also contributed as they co-led the squad with a pair of steals each. The Greyhounds climb to 8-10, 3-6 LSC on the season with the win.
Eastern New Mexico opened up the game taking an early lead with a jumper from inside the paint. A pair of shots from the charity stripe immediately followed and brought the score even. At the 17:54 mark, the Greyhounds answered hitting back-to-back 3-pointers. ENMU would then continue to increase its lead to 13 points (22-9), before a Williams jumper stifled the run with 10:06 on the clock. Singleton quickly followed up as he rolled in a layup that brought the Greyhounds lead back into the single digits.
However, Eastern answered with another 3-ball to kick off a 7-2 run that placed them a head, 30-15. With 6:21 left in the half Singleton embarked on a five point streak that once again cut the lead back to a manage eight points (31-23). The Rams would continue to cut the opponents lead and singleton jumper followed up by a Cole-Johnson 3-pointer would send the Rams into the locker room tailing by only two, 44-42.
Angelo State continued to build in the momentum it carried into the break as it once again brought the score to an even 48 with Cole-Johnson dunk at the 17:43 mark. The Greyhounds would once again respond increasing its lead back into double-digits. Then with 4:05 left in the game and trailing by 13 points (83-70) again, a pair of Kirksey shots from the charity stripe kicked off a 12-3 run that placed the team within striking range. The run saw 3-balls from Will Adler and Mims, as well as shots from Kirksey and Singleton. With the game clock under a minute, both Williams and Kirksey would sink shots that cut the EMNU lead to just a single point, but the Rams would be unable to overcome the deficit.
Angelo State returns home for an early week game against Texas A&M – Kingsville on Tuesday, January 23. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
