SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team is back on its home court for the first time in a month on Monday when it hosts Texas A&M International in their first home conference game of the season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Rams dropped both of their LSC-opening games on the road last week, falling 77-70 to Midwestern State in Wichita Falls and 68-62 to Lubbock Christian in Lubbock. Jaqai Murray led the Rams in scoring with 16.5 points per game, and Zyon Little grabbed 7.5 boards per game.
 
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 TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL
Texas A&M International is 2-6 on the season and 1-1 in LSC play. They defeated UT Tyler to open conference play, then fell to DBU. The Dustdevils are 1-2 on the road this season, with their lone road win coming on opening day over MSU Denver inside the Auraria Event Center. TAMIU scores 67.8 points per game on 42.8 percent shooting from the field and 34.9 percent shooting from three. Three Dustdevils score in double digits, led by Caylen Goff Brown, who averages 16.3 points per game. Goff Brown has scored 12 or more points in seven of eight games this season, including a season-high 23 points in their loss to the Rams back on Nov. 24. Peyton Gusters and Gaius M'Ella have each recorded a double-double this season, with Gusters' 12-point, 10-rebound double-double coming against the Rams. Opponents score 78 points per game on 50.1 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from deep. Opponents out-rebound the Dustdevils by 5.6 rebounds per game. The Rams defeated TAMIU 70-54 on Nov. 24 in non-conference play, leading the entire game. The Rams' offense was led by Jaqai Murray's 24 points and ten rebounds.
 
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 IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Under head coach Vinay Patel, the Rams have a 46-22 record in LSC play.
 
RAMS STATS
The Rams have players ranked in the top 25 nationally in numerous statistical categories. Jaqai Murray is 19th in the country in field goals made. Ja'Queze Kirby is 23rd in Division II with 21 steals this season, and as a team, the Rams possess the nation's 24th-best scoring defense, only allowing 65.1 points per game.