Rams fall in first round of LSC Tournament

On Thursday, March 7, the Angelo State University Rams basketball team suffered an 84-103 loss against the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds in the Lone Star Conference Tournament. 

The first half kicked off with graduate guard Keyshawn Embery-Simpson taking the initiative for the Rams with a jump shot and a 3-pointer for a 5-point lead. The Greyhounds caught up by scoring a jump shot and a layup for a 5-4 score. The Rams strengthened their lead with a 3-pointer by redshirt sophomore forward Shemar Smith along with a jump shot by senior guard Kevon Godwin. The fifth minute saw two layups, a jump shot and a free throw by the Greyhounds, alongside a free throw by Embery-Simpson and a layup by graduate forward Trey Farrer for a 13-11 score. A layup by the Greyhounds placed the teams in a tie, 13-13. The Rams retook the lead with a jump shot by senior guard Willie Guy and two free throws by senior forward DJ Basey. After a dunk by the Greyhounds, Godwin secured another 3-pointer, followed by two free throws by Basey, for a 22-17 lead. The following minutes saw the Greyhounds score two layups, a jump shot and a 3-pointer, taking a 22-24 lead. After tying the score 24-24 with a jump shot by Embery-Simpson, the Greyhounds followed up with a 3-pointer to regain the lead again. A 3-pointer by Godwin brought a short-lived tie as the Greyhounds scored a free throw soon after. After a layup by Basey, the Greyhounds went on a scoring spree with three free throws, two layups and a jump shot for a 29-37 lead. Following a 3-pointer by Kendrick Delahoussaye, Godwin locked in a free throw for a 33-37 score. The Greyhounds increased their lead with a layup, a free throw and two jump shots for an 11-point lead. After two free throws by Godwin and a free throw by Embery-Simpson, the Greyhounds followed up with a free throw. The last minute saw a free throw by Godwin with a free throw and a jump shot by the Greyhounds.

The second half started with a layup by Embery-Simpson, followed by a jump shot by the Greyhounds. After a 3-pointer by Embery-Simpson, the Greyhounds increased their lead with two jump shots and two free throws for a 42-56 lead. The following minutes saw a jump shot and 3-pointer by Embery-Simpson, alongside a jump shot and layup by the Greyhounds. The sixth minute saw a third 3-pointer by Embery-Simpson, with a dunk and two free throws secured by the Greyhounds. Placing them ahead by 20 points, the Greyhounds scored a layup, a jump shot and two free throws. Within the ninth minute, Guy and Godwin each scored a jump shot with a 3-pointer by the Greyhounds. Shortly afterward, a 3-pointer by Embery-Simpson, accompanied by a layup and two free throws by the Greyhounds, placed the score 57-77. After two free throws by redshirt sophomore forward Chris Boekhorst, the Greyhounds followed up with a jump shot and two free throws, reaching a 22-point lead. The following minutes saw the Rams make progress with a 3-pointer by Godwin, a layup and free throw by Farrer and a jump shot by Smith, narrowing the Greyhounds’ lead. In the following minutes, the Greyhounds got a jump shot, two dunks and three free throws; meanwhile, the Rams secured a layup by Smith and three jump shorts by Farrer, Godwin and Guy. Following three free throws by the Greyhounds, Godwin scored a jump shot. After a dunk by the Greyhounds and a jump shot by Guy, the Greyhounds fortified the lead with a jump shot and three back-to-back dunks. Guy followed up with a scoring spree with a 3-pointer, a layup and two free throws for an 82-98 score. The final minute saw a jump shot by Guy, with a free throw, a jump shot and a layup by the Greyhounds to end the match 84-103.

With their loss against the ENMU Greyhounds, the Rams now hold a 19-10 overall standing, with their next hurdle being the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament lasting from Saturday, March 16 to Tuesday, March 19.