SAN ANGELO – Coming off a successful final road trip of the regular season, the Angelo State men's basketball team begins their final homestand of the 2022-23 season this weekend when they host DBU on Thursday night before ending the weekend with a matchup against UT Tyler.
The Rams are 20-5 on the season and 16-3 in conference play; they sit a half-game back of West Texas A&M for the top spot in both the Lone Star Conference standings and the LSC West Division.
The Rams' 16 LSC wins are the most in a single season in program history, besting the previous record of 15 LSC wins in the 2019-20 season.
Thursday's game against DBU is a "White-Out," while Saturday's matchup versus UT Tyler is Educators Appreciation Day. All San Angelo ISD, Concho Valley, and ASU faculty/staff will get free admission into Saturday's doubleheader.
Saturday will also see the Rams honor their four seniors –
Devaughn Thomas,
Tre Mitchell,
Fredelin De La Cruz, and
Steve Webb – before their matchup against the Patriots.
Thomas, a native of New Orleans and a transfer from Lamar State – Port Arthur, is in his third season at Angelo State. He has played in 71 career games, making 36 starts. He has shot 46.4 percent from the field and 76.6 percent from the free-throw line. He has scored 623 points and grabbed 270 rebounds, averaging 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Thomas will graduate with his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in May.
Mitchell, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, is a graduate transfer from Central Connecticut State in his first season in San Angelo. He has played in 24 games, making five starts; he is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line. He averages 7.0 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. Mitchell, who has already graduated with an economics degree, is pursuing a second undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
De La Cruz, an El Seibo, Dominican Republic product, is in his second season in the Blue and Gold, having arrived at ASU from UT Arlington. He has played in 35 games, making 22 starts. He is shooting 49.8 percent from the field, scoring 8.6 points per game and grabbing 5.7 rebounds per contest. De La Cruz was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week this season on December 5
th, his first award in an ASU uniform. This season, he has recorded four double-doubles. De La Cruz graduated with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in December and is currently pursuing a second undergraduate degree in Kinesiology.
One of the top defenders in Division II, Webb is a graduate transfer from St. Louis, having played his first four seasons at his hometown school, Missouri-St. Louis. The three-time GLVC Defensive Player of the Year has established himself as one of the top defenders in the LSC. Regularly assigned to guard the opposing team's best player, Webb is second in the LSC with 1.7 steals per game. Webb, who has already graduated with a business degree, is pursuing his MBA.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
DBU is 14-12 on the season and 9-9 in conference play, with an overall road record of 4-6; they occupy the eighth spot in the LSC standings, which is the final tournament spot. Only 1.5 games separate DBU and three teams below them in the conference standings.
The Patriots are led in scoring by all-conference performers in Cameron Kahn and Ricky Lujan, as well as newcomer Ta'Jay Dunlap. Kahn and Lujan score 13 and 12.3 points per game, while Dunlap chips in 11.7 points per game.
Dunlap also leads the conference in steals, averaging 1.8 per contest.
The Rams have never defeated the Patriots, with DBU claiming the past four contests.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
UT Tyler is 9-13 on the season and 5-13 in conference play; losers of their last four contests; they have been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Patriot offense is led by Rashun Williams, who is scoring 17.6 points per game; the senior guard has scored in double digits in the past seven games.
The Rams have won both matchups against the Patriots; last season, on senior day, the Rams claimed an 88-64 win over the Patriots.
