COMMERCE, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team fell to No. 14/18 Texas A&M – Commerce, 84-73, on Saturday afternoon.
Despite having five players put up double-digit points, the Rams dropped to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play with the loss. Kiair Crouch led the team in scoring as the junior dropped in a season high 15 points against the Lions. James Kirksey (14), Brandon Williams (12), Will Adler (11) and Daron Mims (10) rounded out the group, as the Rams shot 43.3 percent from short range and 78.9 percent from the stripe.
Angelo State also outscored TAMUC 38-28 on points in the paint. Kirksey also led the defense with seven boards and three steals, while adding a team leading five assists to hit totals for the day. With the home win the Lions improved to 12-1, 5-0 LSC on the season.
The Rams came out of the gate hot, as Adler knocked down a deep 3-ball to get things started. This kick started a 21-4 run for ASU that saw big shots from Crouch, Williams and Antonio Singleton. After the Lions added five points (21-9) at the 12:01 mark, Mims got the team back on track with back-to-back layups. The Loins then regained its footing as it embarked on a 19-2 run, which consisted of six 3-pointers, to take over control of the lead (28-26) with 6:30 on the clock.
A Kirksey layup would attempt to stat the run as it brought the score back to an even 28, but the Lions quickly responded and regained the advantage. Texas A&M – Commerce would then hold off the Rams as it steadily built its lead. The two teams would head into the half with ASU trailing 37-32.
After an opening Lions' jumper in the second half, Kirksey, Crouch and Singleton went back to work sinking nine consecutive points climbing back into the driver's seat with 41-39 on the board and 16:11 left in the game. The Rams would be unable to hold on to the lead as TAMUC again took back the lead (47-41) at the 14:36 mark.
A big slam from Williams at the 14:19 mark, would again get the ball rolling for ASU as it headed an 8-2 run that placed the Rams back out in front, 49-48. However, this would be the finally time that Angelo State would lead in the game. Texas A&M – Commerce steadily increased its lead to 15 points (79-64) with 1:20 left in the game and the Lions would not look back. Mims would score the final points for ASU with a layup that would cut the lead to nine points (82-73) with 11 seconds left.
The Rams return home to face a pair of ranked conference foes this coming week. ASU will starting things off on Thursday, January 11 with No. 11/17 West Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m. It will continue the home stand with No. 8/21 UT – Permian Basin on January 13 at 4 p.m.
