The 18^th-ranked Angelo State men's basketball team will look to get back on track as the Rams host two games against St. Edward's and St. Mary's in non-conference play beginning on Saturday.
 
Due to fall graduation ceremonies on Saturday in the Junell Center, ASU will face the Hilltoppers at a neutral site, playing at Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas. Against the Rattlers on Monday, the Rams will be back in the Junell Center.
 
LAST WEEK:
The Rams suffered their first loss of the season, going 1-1 overall on the weekend. ASU started with a 74-71 win over Texas A&M International as Devaughn Thomas knocked down a last-second three to defeat the Dustdevils. After that, the Rams played a tough Texas A&M-Kingsville team, falling just short in overtime, losing 77-75. Paul Williams led four Rams in double figures with 19 points while Lathenial Bastian tallied his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
#18 ANGELO STATE RAMS (7-1) vs. ST. EDWARD'S (5-2)
Saturday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m. CST – Brownwood, Texas – Brownwood Coliseum
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the all-time series 12-2.
Last Meeting: Jan. 31, 2021: ASU, 68-65 – San Angelo, Texas
The Rams have had a strong showing over the Hilltoppers, leading the all-time series while winning four of the last six contests. Last season, the Rams held on to upset SEU who was ranked 17^th at the time, winning 68-65 at home.
 
SCOUTING ST. EDWARD'S:
The Hilltoppers enter the weekend with a 5-2 overall record and will face UT Permian Basin on Thursday before their game against the Rams. SEU has picked up wins over a couple of Division II programs in Colorado Christian and Florida Southern while defeating NAIA's St. Francis twice and Arlington Baptist most recently, winning 104-65. The Hilltoppers lost a close battle to No. 4-ranked Colorado Mesa 84-77 and St. Leo 77-67.
 
SEU holds the fifth-highest scoring offense in the Lone Star at 82.4 points per game and is holding opponents to the seventh-lowest total per game with 67.1 points. The Hilltoppers are shooting .457 from the field and are led by Daniel Venzant who is averaging 17.3 points per game which ranks fifth in the LSC. Logan Cook is also second in the league in rebounds with eight boards per game.
 
#18 ANGELO STATE RAMS (7-1) vs. ST. MARY'S (2-2)
Monday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. CST – San Angelo, Texas – Junell Center
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: The Rattlers lead the all-time series 16-22
Last Meeting: Jan. 23, 2021: ASU, 67-60 – San Antonio, Texas
While the Rattlers hold the all-time lead in the series, the Rams have dominated in recent years, going 11-5 against StMU dating back to the 2007 campaign. ASU split the series against the Rattlers last year, dropping the first game 69-68 before winning the next day 67-60.
 
SCOUTING ST. MARY'S
StMU has played only a few games this season, entering play this week with a 2-2 overall record. The Rattlers picked up a big win over No. 5 Colorado School of Mines, winning 82-59 while also winning against NAIA member Hustin Tillotson, 96-70. They dropped an overtime contest to Regis, 89-81 while also losing to UTSA 75-65.
 
The Rattlers are sixth in the LSC in scoring with 81 points per game. Kobe Magee is their leading scorer with 70 points per game which is tied for the sixth-highest average in the conference. Defensively, StMU is giving up the 12th most points in the league at 73.4. The Rattlers are also 12^th in Division II in three-point field goals per game (11.2) and are 16^th in turnover margin at plus-5.2
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams rank seventh in the country in steals per game, averaging 10.9 per contest. Tyrell Carroll leads ASU with 22 while Williams has 15 on the season.
-ASU is the third highest-scoring team in the Lone Star Conference, averaging 83.6 points per game. Five players are averaging double-figures in points with Williams leading the way with 13.6 points per game.
-The Rams are the sixth-best rebounding team in the conference, averaging 37.5 boards per game with Bastian leading the team with 59 total rebounds on the year.
-ASU is third in the LSC and 33 in the county in blocked shots, averaging just over four per game.
-Carroll ranks first in the LSC in steal with 22 and is tied for the second-most assists with 41. Bastian is tied for fourth in the conference in rebounding (7.4) and is second in blocks with 18.