Winning Streak Reaches Seven for Men's Basketball

SAN ANTONIO — Despite 13 ties and 12 lead changes, the St. Mary's University Men's Basketball team was able to grab a lead for the final time on a Damani Claxton layup with 10:45 left in the second half and win for the seventh straight time and the 10th consecutive time in Lone Star Conference play, defeating Angelo State 68-60 on Thursday night.
 
The Rattlers (13-4, 10-1) were able to take advantage of a +12 rebound margin to get past one of the toughest defenses in the league, as they outrebounded the Rams 45-to-33. Lachlan Bofinger (Sydney, Australia) led the team in boards for the 10th straight game, bringing down 14 as he collected his ninth double-double of the year, adding 10 points.
 
Claxton, a junior guard from Bronx, N.Y., scored a game-high 19 points, while junior guard Wayne Wiggins (Mansfield, Texas) continued to provide a big spark off the bench, scoring 10 with two of the team's four steals and a perfect 5-for-5 night at the free throw line.
 
Junior Eddie McPhee (Denver) led the team with a career-high six steals, and he blocked a season-high two shots, knotting Bofinger for tops in that category.
 
After shooting only 41.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from the free throw line in the first half, the Rattlers stepped up their play on both sides of the ball after halftime, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 58.3 percent from the line, while holding the Rams to 33.3 percent from the field after giving up 46.2 percent in the first half. 
 
Carvell Teasett came off the bench to lead ASU in scoring with 13 points, while Sterling Gaston-Chapman added 11. Blessing Adespie led the Rams with nine rebounds and Kendrick Delahoussaye dished out a game-high eight assists and tied for game-high honors with three steals.
 
The Rattlers remain at home, hosting UT Permian Basin on Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. The Falcons escaped Austin with an 87-86 victory over St. Edward's on Thursday, hitting a three-pointer as time expired for the win.