LUBBOCK, Texas – Playing in the first road game since December, the Angelo State men's basketball team fell just short of a comeback against 22^nd-ranked Lubbock Christian as the Chaparrals defeated the Rams 69-66 at the Rip Griffin Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, LCU completes the series sweep against the Rams to improve to 6-0, 6-0 LSC on the season while ASU drops to 3-5, 3-5 LSC.
 
After making their first shot attempts, scoring was hard to come by for both teams to start the game, combing for 12 straight misses before Salisu Yahaya broke the drought with two free throws.
 
The Chaps found a rhythm midway through the half, scoring six straight to go up 18-8 with just over eight minutes to go in the half. LCU's defense gave the Rams some trouble early, forcing 13 turnovers in the half before taking a 30-19 lead.
 
Down 30-22 with 57 seconds to go in the opening period, Burone Edwards scored nine straight points for the Rams, hitting a three and converting an and-one opportunity before launching a last-second shot from the opposite three-point line to cut LCU's lead to 32-18 at the break.
 
Edwards and Paul Williams led Angelo State with 17 points each while Edwards also collected 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
 
Lubbock Christian forced 16 total turnovers while scoring 16 points off of those while ASU scored 12 points off of eight turnovers by LCU. The Rams also won the rebounding battle 38-30 and finished with 12 second-chance points.
 
Both teams shot much better in the second half with the Rams shooting 48 percent to finish the game with a field goal percentage of 41 while the Chaps finished shooting 42 percent from the field.
 
Devaughn Thomas opened the second half with a score to close the gap to two points before Lubbock Christian used a 12-3 run to go up 47-37 with 14:20 to go in the game.
 
Down 60-52, Angelo State found a run of its own, scoring seven straight points to come within one point of the lead with just over four minutes to play.
 
Thomas finished with nine points along with Kevon Godwin while Yahaya tallied eight points of his own. Sam Moore and Thomas also collected seven rebounds in the game.
 
As both teams continued to battle, Lubbock Christian held off the Rams late, converting eight straight free throws down the stretch to remain perfect on the season.
 
Angelo State remains on the road next weekend as the Rams travel to St. Mary's for two games beginning on Friday, Jan. 22