SAN ANGELO, Texas – Despite a 15-point deficit in the first half, the Angelo State University men's basketball team battled back but fell in a nail-biter to #6 St. Edward's University on Thursday night, 78-77. Ronald Bell led the Rams offense, scoring 20 points and registered his second double-double of the season grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Blue and Gold fall to 11-4 on the season and 7-4 in conference action.

In Case You Missed It:

• The Hilltoppers came out strong going 6-of-7 from beyond the arc over the span of 12 minutes in the first half.
• At the 12:23 and 11:36 mark, the Rams trailed by 15 points but cut in on the lead with back to back three-pointers by Camron Reedus to bring the score within nine at 27-18.
• SEU pushed the lead back up to 15 at the 8:10 mark but the Rams went on an 11-0 run, starting at 7:27 with back to back dunks by Bell followed by Collin Turner and Camron Reedus scoring seven points to trail 35-31.
• ASU went into halftime down by three points at 45-42.
• The momentum changed for the Rams in the second half as Turner and Marcel Pettway kept the score within one point scoring four points combined to trail 47-46.
• Bell managed the tie the game up at 58-58 on a fast break at the 10:45 mark.
• At the 10:09 mark, Reedus followed up with a three-pointer to give ASU its first lead of the game.
• The duration of the second half went back and forth as neither team was able to grab a demanding lead over the other.
• ASU and SEU tied five times in the second half and had six lead changes.

Notable Performances:

• Alongside Bell, Andres Ibarguen registered his fifth double-double of the season scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Ibarguen went 8-of-11 from the floor.
• Reedus (17) and Turner (13) finished the night in double figures to help contribute to the offense.
• Defensively, the Rams outrebounded the Hilltoppers, 40-35.

Up Next:
Angelo State returns to action on Saturday, January 25 against the St. Mary's Rattlers. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.