AUSTIN, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team dropped its first Lone Star Conference game of the season, falling to St. Edward's 96-80 on the road on Friday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Rams move to 9-3 overall, 0-1 in conference play while the Hilltoppers move to 8-4, 1-0 LSC.
 
Dante Moses led the Rams with 18 points, adding eight rebounds while Lathaniel Bastian earned a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
 
The Hilltoppers came out to a quick start, opening the game with a 16-2 run to take an early advantage.
 
The Rams kept up the fight, scoring two 5-0 runs before back-to-back points by Bastian and Devaughn Thomas cut the lead to only five points at 34-29 with just over five minutes to play in the first half.
 
SEU closed out the opening period on a 12-0 run, taking a 47-31 lead into the halftime break. The Hilltoppers shot 57 percent on the day compared to 44 percent from the Rams while ASU outrebounded SEU 39 to 33.
 
The Rams scored the first eight points of the second half, cutting the lead to single digits once again at 47-39. ASU earned 16 points from the free throw line while totaling 15 points off of turnovers.
 
Kelyn Pennie and Thomas both finished with 12 points in the game while Tyrell Carroll added 11 points and five rebounds.
 
The Hilltoppers continued to string points together, building the lead to 20 points at 75-55 with 8:59 left to play.
 
ASU added another run, scoring seven straight points late but couldn't overcome the early deficit.
 
With Sunday's game against St. Mary's postponed, the Rams will play again next week as they take on UT Permian Basin in a non-conference game scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 6.