STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Angelo State men's basketball team complete the Tip-off Classic Conference Challenge with its second with of the season as it downed Metropolitan State, 90-82, on Saturday afternoon.

With James Kirksey (25), Will Adler (20) and Antonio Singleton (19) lead the way for the Rams attack as the team improved to 2-0 on the season. ASU hit 50 percent of its short from inside the arch and improved to 46.7 percent from deep. The Rams also took advantage of its trips to the charity stripe nailing 72.4 percent of its free throws. ASU not only outscored the Roadrunners in fast break points, 30-10, but the Rams bench also tallied 31 points to Metro State's 24.

Kirksey also dominated the stats as he led the squad with five assists and five steals to assist the defense. Ran Tut led in the rebound count with eight on the night, while Brandon Williams turned in a team most three blocks. The Roadrunners fell to 0-2 with Saturday's defeat.

"We were really happy with our team's effort today," commented ASU Head Men's Basketball Coach Cinco Boone. "To face press back into zone defense for 40 minutes this early in the season and handle it as well as we did, made us proud. We had a low turnover game and did a much better job later in the game finishing our shots around the basket. I would also like to give credit to my staff and the team for the preparation for Metro State. Coach Kaerwer and Ingram did an excellent job with the scouting and our team did a great job preparing in such a short time frame."   

The Rams opened the first half with an 11-2 run that started off with a fast break layup from Ja'Michael Brown and was followed by a three ball from Adler, who led the team going 3-8 from beyond the arch. MSU Denver responded and brought the game back to an even 11 at the 11:57 mark.  A Tut tip-in and a pair of free throws by Daron Mims would place ASU back in font. But Angelo State would be unable to hold on as the Roadrunner took back the lead, going up 27-21 with 5:58 left in the half. Metro State then held the Rams at bay for the remainder of the half, and took a 37-35 lead into the locker room.

Kirksey, who went 11-16 to head the team from short range, brought the team back to an even 37 as he tipped in an opening jumper from Williams. The two team would exchange points and the score remained tight, until another Kirksey layup at the 8:36 mark would push Angelo State ahead for the final time in the game. The Road runners would pull to within one with 4:06 on the clock and 67-66 on the board, but free throw from Singleton would get the team back on track. Adler, Tut and Kirksey would all close out the scoring for the Rams as they each stroked a pair of shots from the charity line.

"We got better this week and are excited to return to the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center and play at home in front of our fan base next weekend," added Boone.  

Angelo State looks forward to opening its home schedule with the Ed Messbarger Classic on Friday, November 17 against Arlington Baptist and Saturday, November 18 against St. Edward's.