SAN ANGELO – It can be hard to maintain focus in a game with a lot of stoppages and that's exactly what happened to the St. Mary's and Angelo State men's basketball teams as the teams combined to attempt 45 free throws in the second half alone.
The 18th-ranked Rams (8-2) faced a tough Rattlers (2-4) defense that kept them close throughout. StMU closed within six twice in the final 4:30, but ASU was able to hold on for the win.
For the fourth time in six games this season, the Rattlers had four players score in double digits, led by junior transfer
C.J. Washington (Houston) with a career-high tying 16 points. Senior guard
Caleb Jordan (Midlothian, Texas) added 15, senior
Mamady Djikine (Paris, France) scored 11 and senior
Josh Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind.) chipped in 10. Djikine also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds as the Rattlers won the battle of the boards, 44-to-41.
The team was only credited with four assists as they had several putbacks and solo drives to the bucket during the day. Washington led the team with three steals as the team swiped 11, compared to seven for the Rams.
The Rams also had four in double digit scoring as Kelyn Pennie had 14, Tyrell Carroll and Paul Williams each scored 13 and Dante Moses added 11. Fredelin De La Cruz came off the bench to get a team-high six boards and Carroll led the game with seven assists.
St. Mary's returns to Bill Greehey Arena for just the second time this season as they host Texas A&M International at 4 p.m. on Saturday in a non-conference affair.
There were six ties and nine lead changes through the early going of the first half before Angelo State closed the half on a 14-4 run. Jordan made the last shot of the half, making a crazy jumper while getting fouled with five ticks left to make the score 42-33 at the break. Jordan and Djikine each had nine points to lead the Rattlers.
The Rams scored the first two baskets of the second half, before Djikine made a free throw followed by a layup for the 46-36 score. The teams traded baskets to 52-42 when the Rams went on a 7-0 run to extend the advantage to 17, 59-42. After a St. Mary's timeout, Leonard scored the next five points in the contest to pull the Rattlers within 12, 59-47. A Brewer putback made it a 10-point game, but the Rams scored the next six to push the lead to 65-49. Presley sank both free throw attempts and Washington scored five straight to juxtapose the scores, 65-56 with 6:04 remaining. After one free throw by the Rams, Washington added a pair of his own for the 66-58 tally and forcing an ASU timeout. After a layup by the Rams, the Rattlers closed within six, 68-62, on a Jordan basket and two free throws by Caron with 4:26 left. Angelo State again had an answer, scoring four straight for the 72-62 advantage. The teams traded trips to the free throw line over the final four minutes as the lead remained 10 for the Rams, 81-71.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- The 30 free throw attempts by the Rattlers (23-for-30) are the most in a game this season and the most since the 2020-21 season finale at Oklahoma Christian.
- C.J. Washington became the fifth different Rattler to lead the team in scoring in six games. Washington tied his career-high with 16 points.
- St. Mary's limited Angelo State to nine offensive rebounds. In the last three games, opponents have combined to get only 18 boards on the offensive end of the floor.
- The Rattlers blocked a season-best six shots on Monday. Both Josh Brewer and Emmanuel Ewuzie (San Antonio) had a pair each.
- Mamady Djikine tied his season-high with eight rebounds to lead all players. It is the third time this year and the second-straight game he's grabbed eight caroms.
