Tweet #GoBlueBeGold

KINGSVILLE, Texas (Men's Basketball) – A devastating loss in the backburner, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville men's basketball team (6-12, 1-5 LSC) looks to end the first half of Lone Star Conference play with an upset win over the streaking No. 8/7 Angelo State University Rams (18-1, 6-0 LSC) on Blake Fulenwider Night, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. in the Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court.
 
The veteran Rams squad is currently riding a 13-game win streak with its lone loss coming on Nov. 28 at Colorado Mesa, 70-67. Second year head coach Chris Beard is 37-10 at the helm of the Angelo State program.
 
Last season, ASU and TAMUK split the regular season series and the all-time series edge goes to the Javelinas, 51-48. Live stats and video will be available and can be accessed by visiting JavelinaAthletics.com, the official home of Texas A&M-Kingsville athletics.
 
Angelo State is led by Demario Mayfield's 16.3 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals. Mayfield is the only player in the conference to register a triple-double, doing so in a win over Arlington Baptist on Dec. 16. Chris Jones' 5.3 assists/game and 2.9 steals/contest are league-highs and the senior also adds 14.8 points per game on 61.7 percent shooting, 17^th best in NCAA Division II. His steals/game mark ranks eighth in the nation and his 55 steals are fourth most. Marsell Holden and Raijon Kelly also average double figures and five players shoot at least 60.0 percent from the floor. The roster consists of four Division I transfers.
 
In the Rankings
As a team, the Rams rank first in the nation in scoring margin (28.8), field goal percentage (55.0 percent), second in field goal percentage defense (37.7), fourth in assists/game (20.1) and total assists (362), fifth in defensive rebounds per game (29.44), and sixth in rebound margin (10.3) and assist/turnover ratio (1.61). The Rams are also in the top 15 nationally in steals per game, turnover margin and total steals.
 
Angelo State leads the LSC in scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage, assists/game, total assists, assist/turnover ratio, steals/game, total steals, turnovers and turnover margin, and are second in scoring defense.
 
On the other end, Kingsville tops the LSC in free throw percentage at 73.9 percent and Troy Jones' field goal percentage (64.7) is a league-high and 12^th in Division II. Jones leads the Hogs with 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds.
 
Last Time Out
Duan Wright finished with a career-high 19 points, going 11-of-12 from the charity stripe and pulled down eight rebounds in a near upset over nationally-ranked Midwestern State. As a unit, the Javelinas went 24-of-27 from the free throw line and the bench outscored the Mustangs' 57-to-27. DJ Weathers added 18, 12 coming in the second half and dished out a career best five assists and Adonis Bailey connected on three triples to finish with 12 points.
 
Promotions
Fans wishing to purchase advance tickets for the 2015 Lone Star Conference Basketball Championship can do so at the welcome table inside the Steinke Center. The LSC Championship will be held at the Allen Event Center March 4-7.
 
At halftime, fans can participate in the Mike Shaw Automotive Toyota Kia Three-for-Three and the Macareno Signs and Graphics of Kingsville Shootout. The 2015 baseball and softball teams will also be introduced days before opening day as softball hosts Texas A&M International University on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. and the defending LSC Champion baseball squad heads to QuikTrip Park for the QuikTrip Division II Classic on Thursday, Feb. 5.
 
For full coverage of Javelina men's basketball, please follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and @JavelinaAthletics on Instagram, like Javelina Nation on Facebook, and subscribe to the Javelina Nation YouTube channel.