SAN ANGELO – With the start of the 2024-25 basketball season less than two months from tipping off, Angelo State men's basketball coach Vinay Patel officially announces his squad's schedule for the upcoming season.

For the third consecutive season, the Rams will tip off against New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis at the South Central Region Crossover Challenge on November 8-9, this time in Durango, Colorado.

"Both teams are well-coached programs out of the RMAC and will present an early test for our program," said Patel.

The Rams' home opener will occur on November 19^th at 5 p.m. versus Arlington Baptist before they open LSC play that Saturday in Odessa against UT Permian Basin.

"We will welcome Arlington Baptist and Southern Arkansas to San Angelo for our first two home games of the year," said Patel. "Southern Arkansas is in the Great American Conference and will be an important in-region game for us."

The Rams host Southern Arkansas on November 30^th and open their home LSC schedule on December 5^th and 7^th versus Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M International.

The Rams will compete at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic on December 19^th and 20^th as they face Montana State – Billings and Colorado School of Mines.

"The Holiday Hoops Classic returns to Las Vegas this year, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We will compete against two very talented Division II programs that were both in the NCAA Tournament a year ago," said Patel. "Montana State Billings will be an out-of-region game. Their program won 20 games a year ago and was in the NCAA West Region post-season tournament. Colorado School of Mines has been one of the top RMAC programs each year."

After the schedule flips to 2025, the Rams are home for a season-long four-game homestand. They start by hosting West Texas A&M, the LSC Regular Season champions, on January 9^th before hosting the LSC Tournament Champions in Eastern New Mexico on the 11^th.

The Rams close out the regular season with a three-game home stand against DBU, UT Tyler, and UT Permian Basin on February 20^th, 22^nd, and 27^th, respectively. The Rams' matchup against the Patriots on the 22^nd will also be the Rams' senior day.
The LSC Tournament will be held March 6-9 in Frisco, and the South Central Regional is scheduled for March 14-18.

"The Lone Star Conference looks as deep as it has ever been," said Patel. "Every team will have a legitimate chance to make the postseason. We hope our non-conference schedule will prepare us for the grueling 22-game schedule in league play.  We are ready to work with our players and hope that fans and students will continue to make the Junell Center – Stephens Arena one of the toughest places to play in the Lone Star Conference."