SAN ANGELO, TX – The Angelo State men’s basketball team is gearing up for a challenge to start 2025 as the Rams travel west for two Lone Star Conference matchups. The Rams will face Western New Mexico in Silver City on Friday night before taking on Sul Ross State in Alpine on Sunday afternoon.
In their most recent outings at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, the Rams split their two games, defeating Montana State-Billings 61-53 before falling 71-54 to No. 10 Colorado School of Mines. Notable performances included Damonze Woods grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds and Sterling Gaston-Chapman leading the Rams with 15 points in the victory over Montana State-Billings
Graduate guard Kaden Evans is on the cusp of joining the prestigious 1,000-point club. The Kansas City native currently sits at 970 career points and is 30 points away from the milestone. Known for his defensive prowess, Evans has accumulated 206 career steals, ranking third among active Division II players and 19th across all NCAA divisions.
Under head coach Vinay Patel, the Rams have excelled in conference play, boasting a 36-13 LSC record. Patel holds a perfect 5-0 record against Western New Mexico, including a 2-0 mark on the road.
Angelo State’s defense has been a cornerstone of their success, holding opponents to 63.4 points per game (second in the LSC, 13th nationally). Opposing teams are shooting just 39.4% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc against the Rams, ranking 18th and 30th in Division II, respectively.
Key Players and Stats
- Sterling Gaston-Chapman leads the team with 12.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
- Kendrick Delahoussaye averages 2.2 assists per game.
- Damonze Woods anchors the defense with his shot-blocking ability.
- Team Averages: 69.6 points per game on 45.2% shooting, including 37% from three-point range.
Western New Mexico Mustangs (2-9, 1-4 LSC)
- Top Scorer: Matthew Okoye (17.0 PPG)
- Defensive Struggles: Opponents average 74.8 points per game on 43.6% shooting.
- Historical Edge: Rams are 14-4 all-time against the Mustangs, including a thrilling 98-91 overtime win last season in Silver City.
Sul Ross State Lobos (1-9, 0-5 LSC)
- Top Scorer: Ethan Yancy (16.3 PPG)
- First DII Season: The Lobos are transitioning to Division II and have faced growing pains, allowing 79.9 points per game.
- Historical Edge: Angelo State holds a dominant 32-6 record against Sul Ross, including a 75-53 win in 2022.
Fans can catch the action live on FloCollege or follow via live stats.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: