Canyon, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team won their opening game at the NCAA South Central Regional this evening with a 72-57 win over Colorado Mesa. The win over the Mavericks is the first-ever for the Rams, with the Mavericks having won their prior matchup.
 
The Rams improve to 26-6 on the season. The win is the first for the Rams at an NCAA regional since 2016, having lost their previous three NCAA tournament games.
 
The first half saw the Rams shoot 44.8 percent from the field, as well as converting on six of their 12 attempts from three-point range.
 
Defensively, they held the Mavericks to 27.3 percent shooting from deep and forced them into eight first-half turnovers.
 
The Mavericks improved offensively in the second half; however, an identical 27.3 percent shooting for the Mavericks, as well as eight more turnovers forced by the Rams' defense, saw the Rams close out the victory.
 
The Rams made 22 of their 24 free-throw attempts, shooting 91.7 percent from the charity stripe. Conversely, the Mavericks only converted three of their 12 free-throw attempts.
 
Devaughn Thomas led all players with 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, also going 9-for-10 from the free throw line. He grabbed four rebounds and two steals.
 
Tre Mitchell followed right behind him with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, also making a pair of threes, and grabbing five rebounds.
 
Willie Guy and Barlow Alleruzzo IV each scored 10 points; Guy dished out four assists while Alleruzzo made a pair of triples.
 
The Rams advance to the next round where they will face top-seed and hosts West Texas A&M tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.