STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The No.4 Angelo State men's basketball team fell to No. 9 Tarleton State, 85-67, on Wednesday night in Stephenville.

The Rams dropped to 12-1 overall and 0-1 in the Lone Star Conference after the loss. ASU's offense shot 36.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. Angelo State was out rebounded 49-31, had only two players score in double digits and were outscored 0-22 on second chance points for the night. With the win, Tarleton State improved to 12-2, 2-0 LSC.

"I still feel that we haven't put together a full 40 minute game and this was an introduction to the Lone Star Conference for all the new players on our team," commented ASU Men's Basketball Head Coach Cinco Boone. "It was tough because it was on the road here in Tarleton and it's a tough place to play. It was an eye opener for them because this is the level of teams that we will be playing in this conference. I think that it was a loss that we can build off of. We will have to regroup and get better for another big game at the Junell Center on Saturday."

The Rams started the first half with Quay King knocking down consecutive threes to give the team a 7-6 lead, which would be its only lead of the game. ASU's offense could not string together any greater runs than five points and only scored two points in the paint and three points off of turnovers. The team entered the half down 47-29. At the 16:09 mark in the second half a deep 3-pointer from Tre Bennett kicked off a 9-2 run. This would bring the Rams within 15, which the closest it would get to the Texans in the half.  

Bennett and Stedman Allen led the team's offense, both scoring in double figures for the game. Bennett dropped in 20 points for the game hitting 5-7 from the field, 3-5 from beyond the arc and 7-10 from the charity line. This was the senior point guard's fifth game with at least 20 points. He also lead the squad with four assists. Allen followed with a 15 point showing stroking 5-11 from field goal range and 5-6 from the free throw line.  The forward also tied for a team second four rebounds.

Defensively, Shelton Boykin led with seven total defensive rebounds, all of which were defensive. The California native also led with a three steal performance. He contributed a team second two assist to the Rams offensive efforts.

The Rams return to the Stephen's Arena at the Junell Center on Saturday, January 9 at 4 p.m. to face Texas A&M – Commerce.