SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team opens Lone Star Conference play this week, which will coincide with the conclusion of the Rams' six-game road trip, traveling to Wichita Falls and Lubbock to face Midwestern State and No. 5 Lubbock Christian, respectively. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams claimed a pair of wins last weekend at the West Texas A&M Thanksgiving Classic over Fort Lewis and Justice. In the 78-77 victory over Fort Lewis, the Rams shot 50 percent from the field, and Jesaiah McWright led the Rams with 21 points, 13 of which came from the free-throw line. The Rams used a 26-8 run to close out the first half to pull away from Justice in their 73-51 win over the Lions. Jaqai Murray recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

KIRBY NAMED LSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior forward Ja'Queze Kirby was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week following a pair of standout performances in his first two games inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena. Kirby, a product of Hazlehurst, Georgia, averaged ten rebounds, three steals, and two blocks as the Rams opened their home schedule with wins over Western Colorado and Adams State. In 23 minutes against Western Colorado, Kirby scored eight points while grabbing seven rebounds, blocking a pair of shots, and nabbing three steals. Against Adams State, the Coaching, Sport, Recreation, and Fitness Administration student fell one point shy of a double-double, scoring nine points and securing a season-high 13 rebounds. He also blocked two shots and grabbed three steals against the Grizzlies. 

RAMS SWEEP LSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS TO OPEN SEASON
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 to start off the 2025-26 season. 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 MIDWESTERN STATE
Midwestern State is 2-3 on the season and 2-1 at home, with wins over UCCS and Dallas Christian. The Mustangs score 84.6 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 29.5 percent shooting from three. Jonathan Jackson, a transfer from UT Tyler, leads the Mustangs with 13.6 points per game, followed closely behind by Charles McClennahan Jr. and his 13 points per game. McClennahan Jr. leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game. The Rams have not won in Wichita Falls in either of their last two meetings and are 1-4 in their previous five games inside D.L. Ligon Coliseum. 

SCOUTING LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
Lubbock Christian, the nation's fifth-ranked team, is 6-0 on the season with an average margin of victory of 20.8 points. The Chaps have won their past nine home games, dating back to last season. Amondo Miller Jr. leads the LSC with 24.7 points, shooting 57.4 percent from the field, 58.1 percent from three, and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. Miller Jr. grabs eight rebounds per game and leads LCU in steals. Kendall Dow scores 15.5 points per game, and Antonio Pusateri leads the Chaps with nine rebounds per game. The Rams are winless in their last four trips to Lubbock, with all four games being decided by a combined 12 points. 

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 directors, 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 36-4 inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena, good enough for a .900 winning percentage. They have won their last nine 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 LSC PLAY
Under head coach Vinay Patel, the Rams have a 20-6 record in non-conference play and a 4-1 record in true non-conference road games. 

RAMS STATS
The Rams have players ranked in the top twenty nationally in numerous statistical categories. Jaqai Murray is 13th in the country in field goals made, and Jesaiah McWright is 13th in free throws. McWright's 45 free throws made on 55 attempts lead the LSC. Ja'Queze Kirby is 8th in Division II with 21 steals this season, and as a team, the Rams possess the nation's 18th-best scoring defense, only allowing 63.4 points per game.