SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team opens the 2026 calendar year on its home floor as they host UT Tyler and DBU in a continuation of Lone Star Conference play.
 
This weekend's games are City of San Angelo Appreciation Weekend. All COSA employees and their immediate family members get free admission this weekend with their COSA ID badge.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Rams closed their non-conference schedule with a 1-1 record at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. The Rams fell to #12 West Liberty, 101-79, before closing out 2025 with a 70-59 win over Hawai'i Hilo.
 
SCOUTING UT TYLER
UT Tyler is 6-3 on the season, having won all six of their non-conference games. The Patriots are winless in three LSC games, losing by an average of 10 points per game in conference action. They are 2-2 on the road with wins over Regis and No. 10 Colorado School of Mines. The Patriots score 77.7 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent shooting from three. Kyle Morgan leads UTT with 12.3 points per game. The Houston product shoots 49.4 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from three. John Barbee scores 10.3 points per game, mostly off the bench. Forward Sam Phipps leads the team with 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Opponents score 67 points per game and shoot 40.4 percent from the floor and 33 percent from three against the Patriots. The Rams have won all five matchups against the Patriots all-time by an average margin of 13.4 points per game.
 
SCOUTING DBU
DBU, the reigning LSC and South Central regional champions, is 9-4 on the season and one of three teams undefeated in LSC play. The Patriots score 83.5 points per game, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three. Four Patriots score double digits per game, led by Bishop Jones' 13.4 points per game. Drew Calderon (10.7 points per game), TJ Thomas (10.5 ppg), and Trevor Frank (10.2 ppg) also score in double figures. The Patriots' defense is anchored by one of Division II's premier defensive players in Xavion Brown. Brown leads DBU with 5.3 rebounds and three steals per game. DBU holds opponents to 70.9 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent from deep. The Rams are 3-6 all-time against the Patriots, defeating DBU 68-61 in the regular season before the Patriots eliminated the Rams 85-63 in the LSC Tournament.
 
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.
 
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, two from Division II, and two from high school.
 
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 37-4 inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena, good enough for a .902 winning percentage. They have won their last ten 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 are 21-7 in non-conference play and 4-1 in true road non-conference games.
 
RAMS IN LSC PLAY
Under head coach Vinay Patel, the Rams have a 47-22 record in LSC play.