SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team tips off their 2025-26 campaign this weekend in Montana as it competes in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic. The Rams open their season against Nebraska-Kearney before facing a pair of in-region opponents in New Mexico Highlands and No. 10 Colorado School of Mines from the RMAC. 

SCOUTING UNK
Nebraska-Kearney wnet 12-16 in the 2024-25 season, their first under the direction of head coach Marty Levinson, who was a member of the Lopers' 2003 regional championship team. The Lopers return second-leading scorer from last season in Third Team All-MIAA Ja'Bryant Hill, who averaged 16 points per game last season. Hill also led the team with 3.4 assists per game and two steals per contest. This will be the first-ever matchup between the Lopers and the Rams. 

SCOUTING NMHU
New Mexico Highlands went 12-16 last season and enter the 2025-26 campaign under new leadership in Zach Settembre, who joined the Cowboys after serving as an assistant coach at Tarleton State. The Cowboys do not return a single player from last year's team, and have brought in six Division I transfers as well as four from the Division II ranks. The Cowboys are 3-2 all-time against the Rams, winning the last two matchups on opening weekend each of the last two seasons by a combined four points. 

SCOUTING MINES
Colorado School of Mines, who enter the season ranked tenth in the country, are coming off a 29-5 season which saw them win the RMAC and advance to the South Central regional finals. The Orediggers return their third-leading scorer Markus Pastorcic-Straun, who scored 11 points per game, mainly off the bench. They also return leading rebounder Alex Romack, who grabs five boards per contest. The Orediggers and the Rams met for the first-time ever last season, and Mines walked away with a 71-54 victory in Las Vegas last December. 

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 13-5 record in non-conference play. The Rams are 4-4 against RMAC opposition in Patel's tenure. The Rams' matchup against Nebraska-Kearney marks the Rams' first game against an MIAA opponent in nearly a decade, last playing Missouri S&T on November 28th, 2015. In the past three seasons, the Rams have split their opening weekend games each of the past three seasons. That trend will end this weekend with three games on tap for the Rams.