ODESSA, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team picked up a win in its final non-conference game of the season, defeating UT Permian Basin in a close match up, winning 80-78 in the Falcon Dome on Thursday night.
 
With the win, the Rams improve to 10-3 overall on the season while the Falcons move to 9-4 overall.
 
Five different Rams finished in double figures in points with Paul Williams leading with 15 points, shooting 5-of-7 from the field, and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
ASU came out strong to start the game, building an early eight-point lead after a layup by Kelyn Pennie made it 11-3. The Falcons kept things close in the first half, coming within one point of the lead but could never gain the advantage during the first half.
 
Tyrell Carroll and Dante Moses each finished with 14 points in the game while Fredelin De La Cruz collected a season-high 11 points, and Devaughn Thomas added 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
With less than a minute to play in the first period, Dante Moses gave the Rams their largest lead of the night, hitting two free throws to go up by 10 points, before going into the break with a 37-29 lead.
 
The Rams shot 46 percent from the field compared to 57 percent from UTPB while outrebounding the Falcons 36 to 24. ASU also finished with 19 points off turnovers, forcing seven steals, and made 21 free throws on the night.
 
UTPB scored the first eight points of the second half to tie the game before the Falcons took their first lead at 43-41 with 16:11 to play.
 
The Falcons' largest lead of the game was only three points while a 7-0 run by the Rams, capped off by a three-pointer from Williams, kept the advantage with ASU.
 
Lathaniel Bastian added nine points and seven rebounds while Pennie finished with seven points
 
Down by two points with 1:37 to play, Carroll knocked down two free throws to tie the game before scoring the final two baskets to hold on to the victory.
 
The Rams will continue LSC action next weekend as they take on Midwestern State and DBU beginning Jan. 13.