SAN ANGELO, Texas – While COVID-19 has continued to cast a shadow over the country, some light has shone through as the Angelo State men's basketball team will finally begin its season, opening up the 2020-21 campaign with two games at Dallas Baptist this weekend.
 
Due to the pandemic, conference play will look a little different this season as teams will face each other in back-to-back games to limit travel and exposure. The Rams face DBU in game one on Friday at 5 p.m., and game two on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
The Rams will have a much different look this year, returning one starter and five letterwinners from a season ago. Paul Williams returns after appearing in all 28 games last season, making 22 starts. He averaged 10 points a game while totaling a team-high 81 assists. Also earning significant time during the 2019-20 season was Burone Edwards, Salisu Yahaya, and Kendrick Washington.
 
Angelo State added some more experience to the team, bringing in eight newcomers, all transfers. Sam Moore comes to the Rams from Mary Hardin-Baylor while Lavaris Duncan transfers from Bethany College, both playing their senior season in the Blue and Gold. Also transferring in is Sam Baker (McNeese State), Timothy Parker-Turner (Ventura College), Devaughn Thomas (Lamar State – Port Arthur), Andi Vrapcani (Texas Lutheran), Kevon Godwin (Gulf Coast State), and Elijah Moleon (Coastal Bend College).
 
Head Coach Cinco Boone enters his sixth season at the helm, coming off of his third 20-plus win season after going 20-8 last year, 15-7 in Lone Star Conference play. The Rams earned a bid to the NCAA DII South Central Regionals before the tournament was canceled. Angelo State ranks second in the South Central Regional Preseason rankings heading into the upcoming season, earning 51 points in the poll. West Texas A&M leads the regional poll with 60 points and six first-place votes. In the LSC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Rams were selected second overall as well, just behind the Buffs who were selected unanimously to win the conference title.
 
SCOUTING DBU:
Much like the Rams, the Patriots will have a bit of a different look in 2020-21, losing three starters from a year ago including last year's LSC Defensive Player of the Year in Carter Brown. DBU was 21-9 last year, going 14-8 in conference play. The Patriots were selected to finish fifth in the Lone Star Preseason Coaches' poll, collecting 458 points.
 
Leading the returners for the Patriots is Chandler Jacobs, a two-time First-Team All-Conference selection who led DBU in scoring a season ago, averaging 16.3 points per game.
 
All-Time Series:
Previous meeting: Dec. 7, 2019 – DBU won 84-82 in OT
Last season was the first meeting between DBU and Angelo State as the Patriots pulled away with an 84-82 overtime win over the Rams. DBU was ranked 19^th at the time to hold the series lead 1-0.