SAN ANGELO – Coming off a split result in their opening weekend, the Angelo State men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the Junell Center for the first home game of the young season, which also represents the first of a four-game homestand for the Rams.

The Rams opened the season with a win against New Mexico Highlands before falling to Fort Lewis, who received votes in the NABC Preseason Poll.

Following the opening weekend of contests around Division II, the Rams lead the Lone Star Conference in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 36.7 percent shooting from the field; the Rams also grab a conference-best 41 rebounds per contest.

The Rams' offense averages 70.5 points per game while shooting 39.1 percent from the floor.

Reggie Quezada is the Rams' leading scorer, averaging 18 points per game. Against the Skyhawks, Quezada scored 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting; it was the first time since the 2017-18 season that a Ram has scored 30 or more points since Collin Turner scored 47 against Lubbock Christian on March 6^th, 2020.

Fredelin De La Cruz has been the prominent presence for the Rams in the paint, with the senior leading the conference in rebounding, averaging 11.5 rebounds per game, with five coming off the offensive glass per contest. Against the Cowboys, De La Cruz scored 12 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, the most rebounds for a Ram since the 2019-20 season.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
Arlington Baptist, a National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) member, is 0-2 on the season, having participated in four additional exhibition games against various opponents. On Tuesday night, they lost to a fellow LSC institution in St. Edward's, with the Hilltoppers winning 94-53.

The Patriots are led in scoring by Da'Vione Stafford and his 16.0 points per game; against the Hilltoppers, Daylen Minor was the Patriots' leading scorer with 15 points, while Stafford added 13 points and six rebounds.

The Rams are 6-0 all-time against the Patriots, with last season's contest proving to be the closest in the series as the Rams won 85-75.
 
Following this contest, the Rams stay home and will take on Sul Ross State on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26^th, with that game set to tip off at 6 p.m.