Angelo State Rams' Basketball Officially Opens Season Against Adams State

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State men's basketball team will open its 2026-27 season Friday afternoon against Adams State in a South Central Regional matchup in Alamosa, Colorado.

Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST at Plachy Hall as the Rams begin their 61st season of NCAA Division II basketball.

Angelo State enters the season looking to build on a 17-14 campaign in 2025-26 that saw the Rams win their first five games and 10 of their first 14 contests.

The Rams finished last season with the second-best scoring defense in the Lone Star Conference, allowing just 67.4 points per game, which ranked 30th nationally in Division II.

Angelo State was picked to finish eighth in the LSC preseason poll released Oct. 19, receiving 499 points. Defending conference champion Dallas Baptist topped the poll with 841 points and 35 first-place votes.

Senior forward Jhordan Ryan headlines the Rams' returning players after earning third-team All-LSC honors last season.

Ryan, a native of Montserrat, averaged 6.7 rebounds per game, ranking ninth in the conference, and recorded eight double-doubles during his first season in San Angelo. He was named to the LSC Preseason Players to Watch List.

Angelo State returns six letter winners from last season, including four players who made at least one start. Those six players combined for 2,048 minutes and 37 starts during the 2025-26 campaign.

The Rams also added six transfers and three true freshmen to the roster.

Head coach Vinay Patel enters his fifth season leading the program. During his tenure, Patel has coached 14 All-LSC selections, including 2023 LSC Defensive Player of the Year Steve Webb and 2024 LSC Newcomer of the Year Keyshawn Embery-Simpson. Patel has also led Angelo State to a 42-8 record at the Junell Center-Stephens Arena, including 21 consecutive home victories to begin his tenure.

The Rams have been particularly successful early in the season under Patel, compiling an 18-5 record in November since the 2022-23 campaign. Angelo State is also 36-11 in November and December combined during that stretch.

Scouting Report: Adams State

Adams State enters Friday's matchup with a 0-1 record after falling 96-72 to Western New Mexico on Monday. The Grizzlies shot 35.5% from the field in the loss and committed 18 turnovers that led to 21 points for Western New Mexico. Ta'Veus Randle led Adams State with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Rondell Lewis added 12 points and three blocks.

The Grizzlies finished last season 18-11 overall and 12-8 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play before falling to Fort Lewis 88-72 in the opening round of the RMAC Tournament.

Adams State lost its top four scorers and three all-conference selections from last season's roster. The Grizzlies were picked to finish ninth in the RMAC preseason poll. Senior forward Emilek Jallow is the team's top returning player after averaging 9.0 points per game last season. Jallow appeared in 24 games, making six starts, while shooting 52.3% from the field.

Adams State head coach Kenny Tripp enters his fourth season with the program. He holds a 38-48 record during his tenure in Alamosa.

Friday will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Angelo State and Adams State. The Rams lead the series 5-2, dating back to 1992. The teams previously met in a season opener in 2015, when Angelo State earned a 75-71 victory in Stephenville. However, the Rams are 0-1 in games played in Alamosa, having lost 78-69 to the Grizzlies on Nov. 18, 2000.

Angelo State is 38-22 in season openers dating back to 1965 and has won both of its previous games played on Nov. 13.

Friday's contest is the first of four scheduled games against RMAC opponents this season. The Rams will also face Western Colorado this weekend, Fort Lewis on Nov. 28 in Lubbock and Colorado-Colorado Springs on Dec. 18 in Las Vegas.