SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team opened its 2018-19 home schedule with a bang Friday night, dominating Jarvis Christian College 98-62 in the Ed Messbarger Classic.
The Rams (3-0) hit 15 three-pointers in the game, tying for the second most in a single game in ASU history, while racking up 25 assists and almost doubling the Bulldogs in rebounds.
Jarvis Christian got on the board first with a three-pointer, but Ronald Bell quickly tied things up with a three-pointer of his own. Collin Turner then hit from behind the arc to give the Rams a lead they would not relinquish all game.
Turner and Bell ended up being the Rams' leading scorers in the route of the Bulldogs, each tallying 15 points. Turner got all of his points from behind the arc, hitting 5-of-6 three-point attempts. He also had a season high eight assists as well. Bell got more points in the paint, but did hit one three-pointer and had six rebounds.
With 12:19 left in the first half, the Rams pushed the lead to double digits for the first time as Kiar Crouch hit a jump shot assisted by Paul Williams. Angelo State had 25 assists in the win marking their most in a single game since last year's Ed Messbarger classic when they had 26 against Arlington Baptist.
Crouch hit again with five minutes left in the half to put the Rams up by 21 before they closed out the half with a flourish. With 32 seconds left, Josh Boutte hit a layup in the paint. The Rams didn't stop there, however, as Daron Mims stole the ball and hit Boutte again for a fast break dunk. ASU stole the ball again, this time with Antonio Singleton forcing the turnover and got the ball to Turner who hit a three with 12 seconds left and sending the crowd wild as ASU went into the locker room up by 28.
ASU quickly got the lead to 30 points quickly in the second half on a bucket from Kirksey, who ended the night as the Rams' leading rebounder with eight. Angelo State finished the night with 47 rebounds, including 19 on the offensive glass, while the Bulldogs grabbed only 25 boards overall.
The Rams did not let up, even pushing the lead past 40 on yet another three-pointer from Turner with 6:14 left in the game. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, and the lead never got wider than 42, but Angelo State cruised to the final 98-62 win.
ASU will be back on the floor at the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center at 7 p.m. Saturday night to close out the Ed Messbarger Classic.
