SAN ANGELO, Texas - The Angelo State men's basketball team returns home for the final two regular season games in Lone Star Conference play, facing Texas A&M-Commerce and UT Tyler.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams won two pivotal games on the road last week, beating UAFS 70-66 and Oklahoma Christan 91-79. Devaughn Thomas led the way for the Rams with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting against the Lions. Against OC, the Rams dominated the paint as Lathaniel Bastian led the way with 19 points and eight boards.
ANGELO STATE RAMS (18-8, 8-6 LSC) vs. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE (16-7, 8-5 LSC)
Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. CST – San Angelo, Texas – Stephens Arena at the Junell Center
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu/
Live Stats: angelostats.com
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: The series is currently tied 48-48.
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2021: ASU, 70-56  – San Angelo, Texas
The Lions and Rams will meet one final time as LSC foes in San Angelo. This, the 97th meeting between the two sides is the third most times the Rams have played a single opponent (behind Abeliene Christian and TAMUK). The Rams have won the previous three games over the Commerce.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE:
Texas A&M-Commerce enters the week 16-7 on the year and 8-5 in Lone Star Conference play. On the season, the Lions are 0-2 against ranked teams, losing to both West Texas when they ranked 11th and to Lubbock Christian when they held the number one spot. The Lions do have quality wins, over division one UTSA and twice over DBU. The Lions have lost their last three conference games to UT Tyler, St. Edward's, and St. Mary's, leaving them fifth in the LSC with two games to go.
On offense, the Lions rank seventh in the conference in scoring, putting up 74.7 points per game. Defensively, TAMUC ranks eight, allowing 68 points per contest. The Lions shoot 46.6 percent from the field, ranking third in the LSC, and hold opponents to 42.1 percent, fourth in conference. The Lions lead the Lone Star averaging 10.2 made threes a game, shooting 38.7 percent, second in conference.
Alphonso Willis leads the Lions averaging 12.3 points per game. He is followed closely by Jairus Roberson and Augustine Ene who both contribute 11.9 points per contest. Willis also leads TAMUC in rebounding, pulling down 6.2 per game. Ene leads the conference in three point percentage, shooting 46 percent from downtown.
ANGELO STATE RAMS (18-8, 8-6 LSC) vs. UT TYLER (15-7, 6-6 LSC)
Saturday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m. CST – San Angelo, Texas – Stephens Arena at the Junell Center
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu/
Live Stats: angelostats.com
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: The Rams lead the all-time series against the Patriots, 1-0.
Last Meeting: Jan. 30, 2019: ASU, 88-82  – Tyler, Texas
The Rams and Patriots did not meet in the shortened 2020 season. In a very new matchup, the Rams took the first and only meeting to date between the sides in Tyler.
SCOUTING UT TYLER:
UTT is currently 15-7 on the season, holding a 6-6 record in Lone Star games. The Patriots have notable wins over Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and Midwestern State. UTT was on a four game winning steak before St. Edward's handed them their first loss in the month of February, 81-60.
UT Tyler ranks ninth in points per game, scoring 73.3 per contest, while allowing just 65 per game. They rank third in margin, sitting at +8.4. The Patriots shoot .456 percent from the field and hold their opponents to .417, the second best mark in the LSC. UTT ranks fourth in rebounding, pulling down 36.3 boards a game, with the best rebound margin at +5.9.
Micah Fuller and Da'Zhon Wyche spearhead the offense for the Patriots, averaging 13.5 and 12.0 points per game respectively. Milan Szabo is the leading rebounder, with 6.0 a contest. Fuller leads the conference at the free throw line, shooting 93.4 percent. Wyche will also create shots for the Patriot offense, dishing out 4.1 assists per game.
QUICK HITS:
-This will be the 97th meeting between the Rams and the Lions with the series tied 48-48.
-The Rams are the second highest-scoring offense in the Lone Star, averaging 78.8 points per game.
-ASU leads the LSC in steals with 8.58 per game, while Carroll leads the conference with 2.3 steals per game.
-The Rams are the second-highest rebounding team in the Lone Star with 38.7 rebounds per game with Lathaniel Bastian ranking third with 8.0 rebounds per game.
-Bastian is third in the conference with 1.5 blocks per game, while the team sits fourth, averaging 3.69.
-Carroll is leading the Rams in points per game with 13.4, followed by Paul Williams with 12.7 points per game and Dante Moses with 12.3.
