SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team looks to bounce back from its three-game skid this week as they host rivals UT Permian Basin tomorrow night before facing LSC and Division II newcomers UT Dallas on Thursday night. 

This week is Shannon Appreciation Week inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena. Shannon employees with their Shannon ID Badge and their immediate family will be admitted free of charge to both doubleheaders.

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams dropped their first two road games of the 2026 calendar year, falling to Cameron 76-71 and to Oklahoma Christian 56-50. Kailon Nicholls scored 20 points against the Aggies, while Jhordan Ryan recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in the loss to the Eagles.

SCOUTING UT PERMIAN BASIN
UT Permian Basin is 6-10 on the season and 2-6 in conference play. The Falcons claimed wins in Oklahoma last weekend, defeating Oklahoma Christian 82-80 and Cameron 115-108 in double overtime, marking their first two road and conference wins. The Falcons score 76 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent shooting from three. Five players score in double figures for UTPB, led by graduate forward Tash Lunday's 18.6 points. The South Dakotan has recorded five double-doubles this season as he leads the Falcons with 8.6 rebounds per game. Sharrod Taylor (12.8 points per game), Bryceson Burns (12.1 points per game), and Rashad Kee (10.5 points per game) join Lunday in averaging double digits in scoring. TJ McKenzie averages 10.4 points per game and is fresh off a 33-point performance in the double-overtime win over Cameron last Saturday. The Falcons concede 79.6 points per game on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent shooting from three. The Rams are 19-12 all-time against the Falcons. Last season, the two teams split the season series, with the home team winning both contests. 

SCOUTING UT DALLAS
UT Dallas is 4-10 overall and 3-3 in LSC play. Having started the season 0-5, the Comets, who are in their first season of Division II competition, have won four of their past five games, three of which have come in LSC play by an average margin of victory of 25 points per game. The Comets score 78.9 points per game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from deep. Jaden Jefferson leads the team in scoring with 19.6 points per game. Playing without the sophomore for the first seven games of the season, the Comets are 0-7, but 4-3 since he debuted on December 11th. Huson Goellner scores 12.5 points per game and leads the Comets with 6.9 rebounds per contest. Peyton Dulis scores 11.8 points per game and leads UTD in assists (4.5 per game) and steals (2.5 per game). Opponents score 78.5 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 31.7 percent from three. The Comets control the boards, out-rebounding their opposition by 2.3 boards per game. This is the first-ever matchup between the Rams and the Comets.

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 38-5 inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena, good enough for a .884 winning percentage. 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 48-25 record in LSC play.