Angelo State Basketball's Coach Patel Speaks Before Rams' Exhibition Game

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State Rams' basketball team unofficially begins its season at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, when the Rams welcome Arlington Baptist to the Junell Center for an exhibition.

Head Coach Vinay Patel held his season-opening press conference on Monday at the Junell Center to preview the matchup and talk about the 2026-27 basketball team.

Watch that press conference above:

The Rams return six players from last season’s squad, including All-LSC Jhordan Ryan of St. John's, Montserrat; Jabbari Barry of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Davon Scott of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Chace Fields of San Angelo; Ashraf Barsham of Amarillo, Texas; and Kollin Allbright of San Angelo. 

Allbright and Fields, both graduates of San Angelo Central, enter 2026 looking to make a bigger impact for the Rams this season.

"Fields is essentially the longest tenured player in the program," Patel said of the 6'7 senior. "He's going into year three for us and has done a tremendous job. He's one of those guys that you don't always see his success on game night, but he is tremendous for us in the locker room, practice and on the bench. He's a very, very smart kid who graduates with a psychology degree this year, and we are fired up to have him here."

For Allbright, the 6'9 forward rejoined the program around Christmas last season and looks to be a difference-maker as a red-shirt sophomore.

"He's done a tremendous job," Patel continued. "He stepped away for a little bit and we added him back at Christmas last year. He's essentially going into his third year with us. We've been really excited about him. He's taken a major step from his freshman year to now, and I think fans are going to be excited to see him on the floor this year."

Read more on the matchup with Arlington Baptist HERE.

Tip-off in tonight's matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Junell Center in San Angelo.