SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State men's basketball team is on the road for the first time in the 2026 calendar year as they make the trip north to Oklahoma to face Cameron on Thursday evening before closing the weekend with Oklahoma Christian on Saturday afternoon. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams split the first two games of the calendar year, defeating UT Tyler 76-50 before defending regional champion DBU defeated the Rams 86-50 on Sunday. Kailon Nicholls scored a career-high 24 points in the win over the Patriots, while Jaqai Murray recorded his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Across the first two games of 2026, Murray averaged 14.5 points and nine rebounds per game.

SCOUTING CAMERON
Cameron is 5-8 on the season and 2-3 in LSC play, tied with the Rams in the LSC standings. They are 2-2 on their home court this season with wins over Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M International. The Aggies score 80.4 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.9 percent shooting from three. Three Aggies average double digits in scoring, led by Jordan Mitchell's 17.9 points per game. Mitchell has scored ten or more points in every game this season and has eclipsed the 20-point mark five times. Mitchell also leads the team in assists and steals. Michael Jones leads the Aggies' effort in the paint with 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. Opponents score 86.7 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent shooting from deep, while out-rebounding the Aggies by 4.4 rebounds per game. The Rams are 35-20 all-time against the Aggies, including a 65-58 win last season in Lawton. 

SCOUTING OC
Oklahoma Christian is 7-5 overall and 2-4 in LSC play. They are 5-1 on their home court this season, having won their last two contests inside the Payne Athletic Center. The Eagles average 72.8 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 31.7 percent shooting from three-point range. Four Eagles average ten or more points per game, led by Miles Gibson's 14.8 points per game. Gibson shoots 53.1 percent from the field and leads the team's effort on the boards, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. Opponents score 70.4 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 28.9 percent shooting from three-point range. The Rams are 6-1 all-time against the Eagles, with OC claiming a 61-58 win over the Rams last season. 

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 48-23 record in LSC play.