SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team, coming off a successful 3-0 weekend in Montana, opens its home schedule this weekend against Western Colorado and Adams State.
The Rams also travel to Stephenville on Monday evening to take on old LSC rivals Tarleton State in an exhibition.
LAST TIME OUT
The Rams started 3-0 for the first time under head coach
Vinay Patel, defeating Nebraska-Kearney, New Mexico Highlands, and No. 10 Colorado School of Mines. The Rams held their opposition to 65.3 points per game on 35.3 percent shooting from the field.
RAMS SWEEP LSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Rams forwards
Jaqai Murray and
Zyon Little swept the Lone Star Conference player of the week awards on Tuesday for their performances at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at the Trailhead. Murray led the Rams in scoring with 14.7 points per game. He shot 60 percent from the field and averaged 6.7 rebounds per game. He ended the weekend with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the win over No. 10 Colorado School of Mines. Little led the Rams' rebounding effort, averaging seven rebounds per game. The Dickinson native also nearly recorded two double-doubles with 11 points and eight rebounds against Nebraska-Kearney and ten points and eight rebounds against No. 10 Colorado School of Mines.
SCOUTING WCU
Western Colorado went 8-19 overall and 6-14 in RMAC play; it went winless in three games against LSC competition. The Mountaineers dropped a 94-92 overtime exhibition at the buzzer last week to Division III Colorado College. Aiden McDowell scored 34 points on 15-for-17 shooting from the free throw line, while Jordan Kuac and Tyler Hallingan scored 19 points each. The Rams have won the only prior matchup between these two programs, winning 89-73 on November 29th, 2014, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
SCOUTING ADAMS
A year ago, Adams State went 12-16 overall and 7-13 in RMAC play; the Grizzlies went 3-2 against LSC teams. The Grizzlies return second-leading scorer Ta'Veus Randle, who scored 13.4 points per game and led the team with 1.5 steals per game. Luke Williams also returns from last season's team; the Grizzlies' leading rebounder in 2024-25 secured 5.4 rebounds per game. The Rams are 2-0 against the Grizzlies, winning in the 2015-16 and 2018-19 seasons.
SCOUTING TARLETON
Tarleton State is 2-2 on the season, with wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Merrimack, while their two losses have come against SMU and LSU. Dior Johnson leads the Texans in scoring with 15.3 points per game off the bench; Johnson is one of six Texans to average double figures in scoring. Opponents are only shooting 34.1 percent from three against the Texans this season.
NEW TEAM, WHO DIS?
The Rams will have a new look in the 2025-26 season as they return only two players -
Chace Fields and
Darius Brady - from last year's team. The Rams' coaching staff brought in 13 new players, five of whom come from the Division I ranks. Four of the newcomers join ASU from a JUCO, while two are from Division II, and two are high school products.
RAMS RANKED SIXTH IN LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Rams were picked sixth in the LSC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches, sports information, and media members. Defending regional champions DBU were picked to repeat as LSC Champions, followed by St. Mary's, Lubbock Christian, St. Edward's, and West Texas A&M.
HOME COURT DOMINANCE
Under head coach
Vinay Patel, the Rams are 34-4 inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena, good enough for a .920 winning percentage. They have won their last seven games on their home court, including a win over No. 5 DBU last spring. The Rams won their first 21 games on their home court under Patel's guidance, including a 13-0 mark in 2022-23, Patel's first season in charge.
RAMS IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Under head coach
Vinay Patel, the Rams have a 15-5 record in non-conference play. The Rams are 6-4 against RMAC opposition in Patel's tenure. This weekend marks the first time the Rams will play RMAC opposition inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena under Patel's leadership.
