Billings, Mont. – For the first time under head coach Vinay Patel, the Angelo State men's basketball team starts its season off with a 2-0 record by defeating New Mexico Highlands 83-68 on Saturday afternoon at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at the Trailhead.

After the opening ten minutes, where the two teams traded the lead, the Rams closed the opening half on a 27-13 run, overturning a one-point deficit into a 13-point advantage at the break.

The Rams held a double-digit lead over the Cowboys for the entirety of the second half.

The Rams shot 50 percent from the field and made 26 free throws, their most in a game since 26 against West Texas A&M in an overtime game on February 10^th, 2024. Their 34 free throw attempts are the second-most for the Rams in a single game under Patel, and the most since they attempted 35 against Le Moyne on December 17^th, 2022.

Three Rams – Ashraf Barsham, Jesaiah McWright, and Jaqai Murray – scored 17 points.

Barsham shot 6-for-9 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots, and recorded three steals.

McWright made four of his eight field goal attempts and converted nine of his ten chances at the charity stripe. He also assisted four times.

Murray shot 7-for-9 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.

Kailon Nicholls scored eight points and assisted a game-high six times. Jhordan Ryan added six points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.

The Rams are 2-0 on the season; they close their weekend in Montana out tomorrow against No. 10 Colorado School of Mines.