SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team starts its four-game road trip with matchups against Oklahoma Christian and Cameron this weekend. The Rams and Eagles face off on Saturday at 3 p.m. before traveling to Lawton to face the Aggies on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams claimed a pair of home conference wins last week, defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville 75-66 and Texas A&M International 66-53. Sterling Gaston-Chapman had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Javelinas, and four Rams scored in double figures in the win over the Dustdevils. 

RAMS RETURN FOUR
The Rams return four members from last year's team - DJ Freeman, Carvell Teasett, Kendrick Delahoussaye, and Shemar Smith - as they work nine new players into the fold. The quartet averages 32 points of the team's 75.2 points this season. 

PATEL IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Vinay Patel is 35-12 in LSC play as head coach at Angelo State and 13-10 on the road in conference play. He is 4-1 against his opposition this weekend and 2-1 on the road against OC and Cameron.

GASTON-CHAPMAN DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior guard Sterling Gaston-Chapman recorded his second double-double of the season against Texas A&M-Kingsville, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The Kansas native leads the Rams in scoring and rebounding this season.

RAMS' DEFENSE
The Rams possess one of the most formidable defenses in the LSC. They only allow 64.9 points per game to opponents, which ranks third in the league. Their opponents shoot 40.4 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three, both top-five marks in the league. 

RAMS ADD NINE
Angelo State recruited nine newcomers in 2024-25, including three from Division I and two from Division II. 

    Denim Dawson
    Junior * 6-6 * Guard
    San Bernardino, Calif. * Tennessee State
Averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game at Orange Lutheran HS; Trinity League MVP

    Sterling Gaston-Chapman
    Senior * 6-4 * Guard
    Wichita, Kan. * UT Arlington
Three-star recruit out of Campus HS in Wichita; two-time all-metro and two-time all-state selection

    Jalen Gilmore
    Junior * 6-3 * Guard
    Jacksonville, Fla. * Lynn
Averaged 9.5 points and 5.2 assists per game in 2023-24 for Lynn
    
    Blessing Adesipe
    Junior * 6-6 * Guard
    Houston, Texas * UT San Antonio
NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention at Miles College; scored 1,132 points in two seasons

    Darius Brady
    Freshman * 6-0 * Guard
    Houston, Texas * Kingwood HS
2023-24 Second Team All-District selection for Kingwood HS 

    Chace Fields
    Sophomore * 6-6 * Forward
    San Angelo, Texas * Adrian College
Averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for Adrian College

    Kollin Allbright
    Freshman * 6-9 * Forward
    San Angelo, Texas * Central HS
Averaged 14 points per game in prep career; two-time first team all-district honoree

    Damonze Woods
    Junior * 6-7 * Forward
    Amarillo, Texas * Odessa College
Averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds; District 5A All-State selection as a junior at Amarillo HS

    Kaden Evans
    Graduate Student * 6-4 * Guard
    Kansas City, Mo. * Emporia State
Led Division II in steals as a freshman in 2020-21 with 3.1 per game; 4x All-Conference selection at Oak Park HS

PERSONAL BESTS THIS SEASON
Seven Rams have recorded a personal best this season.

•     Blessing Adesipe scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the Rams' win over No. 22 Fort Lewis on November 9. He also had two assists and three steals in his home debut versus Arlington Baptist on November 19.
•     Kollin Allbright grabbed his first career rebound in his collegiate debut versus Arlington Baptist on Nov. 19.
•     Darius Brady assisted for the first time in his career versus Arlington Baptist on Nov. 19.
•     Denim Dawson blocked a pair of shots in his first start for ASU against Southern Arkansas on Nov. 30. He scored 13 points in the Rams' win over Texas A&M International on Dec. 7.
•     Kendrick Delahoussaye scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in the Rams' win over Southern Arkansas on Nov. 30. 
•     Sterling Gaston-Chapman set new career highs in points (20) and rebounds (12) in the Rams' win over Arlington Baptist on Nov. 19 for his first career double-double. He had five assists in the Rams' win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Dec. 5.
•     Damonze Woods scored 11 versus Texas A&M-Kingsville on Dec. 5. He blocked a pair of shots against Southern Arkansas on November 30. 

HOME COOKIN'
The Rams have made the Junell Center-Stephens Arena a fortress under head coach Vinay Patel, accumulating a 27-2 record in Patel's two seasons in San Angelo, good enough for a .931 winning percentage. His first season featured the Rams going 13-0 on their home court; the second season they've been undefeated on their home court across a season. The Rams went 17-0 inside the Junell Center - Stephens Arena in 2014-15. 

RAMS FOURTH IN LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Rams were picked to finish fourth in the LSC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors. The Rams were picked behind West Texas A&M, DBU, and Lubbock Christian. 

NEED TO KNOW

• Angelo State averages 75.3 points per game on 48.1 percent from the field and 39.2 percent shooting from three. The Rams are shooting 68.4 percent from the charity stripe. 
• The Rams are fourth in the LSC in field goal percentage and third in three-point percentage. They are fifth in three-pointers made per game, with 8.6 makes per contest.
• The Rams average 35.4 rebounds per game, out-rebounding opponents by 3.1 per contest.
• Defensively, the Rams hold opponents to 64.9 points per game on 40.4 percent shooting from the field and 31.1 percent from three-point range. 
• Sterling Gaston-Chapman leads the Rams in scoring with 12.9 points per game. He is shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. 
• Gaston-Chapman leads the Rams with 5.6 rebounds per game. Gaston-Chapman and Kendrick Delahoussaye are tied for the team lead in assists. 
• Damonze Woods leads the team in blocks, while Kaden Evans leads the team with over two steals per game. 

OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN
NABC RANK: N/A
2024-25 RECORD: 3-5, 0-3

TV: FloCollege | Radio: Foster Communications | Live Stats

• The Eagles are 3-5 on the season and 0-3 in LSC play; all three of their wins have come on their home court this season. 
• They score 77.9 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from three. 
• Defensively, opponents score 80.5 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting and only 39.1 percent from three. The Eagles out-rebound opponents by four boards per contest.
• Foru Eagles average double figures in scoring, led by Keyondre Young's 18.6 points per game. Young shoots 49 percent from the field and 54.2 percent from three.
• Young also leads the rebounding effort for the Eagles with six boards per game. 
• Javon Grant leads the team in assists, while Marco Foster averages two steals per game. 
• The Rams are 6-0 all-time versus the Eagles. Last season, the Rams defeated OC 86-76 in San Angelo.

CAMERON
NABC RANK: N/A
2024-25 RECORD: 3-5, 0-2

TV: FloCollege | Radio: Foster Communications | Live Stats

• The Aggies are 3-5 on the season and 0-2 in LSC play; they are 2-1 on their home court this season.
• They score 75.6 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and 31.1 percent from three. 
• Defensively, opponents score 75.4 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting and only 27.9 percent from three. The Aggies out-rebound opponents by 6.8 boards per game.
• Four Aggies score in double figures, led by Lavell Brodnex's 14.5 points per game. 
• Jaxon Ingram averages a double-double with 11.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. 
• Reggie Prudhomme averages nearly six assists per game. 
• The Rams are 34-20 all-time versus the Aggies. The two teams split their matchups last season, with the home team claiming both contests.