SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team stayed alive in the Lone Star Conference Tournament with a 78-77 victory over UT Permian Basin Tuesday evening at the Junell Center.
 
The Rams pick up win number 20 on the season as they improve to 20-8 on the year. A matchup with LSC rival West Texas A&M awaits the Rams in Frisco.
 
ASU shot 44.4 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three on the evening. The Rams out rebounded the Falcons 42-36 in the contest, both teams grabbing 10 on the offensive glass. Dante Moses led all scorers, dropping 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to complete a double-double.
 
 The Rams opened play with a barrage of three pointers as a Moses triple capped off a 10-0 start for the home side. Andre Nunley hit another three with 12:44 remaining to put the home side up 19-8, extending their lead to the largest of the first half at 11.
 
 The Falcons chipped away at the Rams lead and would jump ahead 30-27 following a 7-0 run for their first lead of the ballgame. Kelyn Pennie scored five as the Rams answered with a 7-0 run of their own to retake the lead. A Salisu Yahaya dunk brought the teams to halftime with the Rams leading 43-39.
 
ASU shot 52 percent from the field and made 8-of-12 threes in the first half. Pennie and Tyrell Carroll both finished with 11 points, Carroll also added eight assists on the evening. The Rams would end up with scoring from all over as eight players would score more than five enroute to the victory.
 
Moses scored six quick points as the second half got rolling, the Rams jumping ahead by seven with 15:46 to go. The Falcons would catch fire, going on a 15-2 run over an eight-minute stretch, pulling them ahead 64-57 with 6:19 left in the half.
 
Six straight free throws for the Rams would cut the lead to just one at 66-65 with 3:30 left. The teams would trade buckets late and enter overtime tied 73-73.
 
There were no field goals made in the overtime period, but the Rams outscored the Falcons 5-4 at the free throw line in the extra five minutes. A pair of free throws by Nunley would wrap things up in favor of the home side.
 
The Rams will travel to Frisco, Texas as a member of the final eight in the LSC Tournament to play West Texas A&M Thursday, Mar. 3 at 2:30 p.m. at the Comerica Center.