KINGSVILLE, Texas - The opening of Lone Star Conference play is upon us as the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team welcomes Angelo State and UT Permian Basin to the Steinke Physical Education Center. The Javelinas take on the Rams of ASU on Thursday with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. and follow-up on Saturday with a contest against the UTPB Falcons at 3 p.m.

The Hogs (2-3, LSC 0-0) are coming off of a comfortable 72-55 win over Our Lady of the Lake on Thanksgiving eve that saw almost every Javelina get on the stat sheet in some form. 

Zyon Little and Isaiah Payne led the scoresheet for TAMUK their last time out, racking up 12 points each. Little also added three rebounds and two assists to his statline while Payne snagged a steal while shooting 71.4 percent from the field. 

Allen Singleton came away with two steals on the defensive end while adding eight points of his own. Kendrick Washington also racked up eight points and led the team in rebounding with four boards alongside three assists.

Andre Walker II led the Hogs in assists on the night with four, also adding five points and three rebounds.

C.J. Smith tacked on five points to his season total which stands at at team-high 67, averaging 13.4 points per game.

The matchup against ASU on Thursday will also be Faculty Appreciation Night. The game against UTPB on Saturday will be Ring Night as well as a Food Drive.

SCOUTING THE RAMS

ASU is coming off of a 50-79 exhibition loss against North Texas. Before that, the Rams beat Arlington Baptist, 111-68.

Kevon Godwin is the top scorer for the Rams with 60 points, averaging 15.0 points per game. Keyshawn Embery-Simpson is second with 45 points, but a team-high average of 22.5 PPG - only playing in two games so far.

Godwin is also the team's second-highest assister with 13. Willie Guy leads with 16 assists.

Trey Farrer leads the Rams in total rebounds with 30 alongside five blocks and five steals.

ASU is winning the rebounding battle against their opponents, 151-125, but is giving up more turnovers and steals to their competition.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

UTPB is coming off of a 2-0 weekend at the Walk On's Thanksgiving Classic with a 86-56 win over Northern New Mexico and a 104-74 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Four Falcons - Keyon Craddock, Lathaniel Bastian, Zy Wright, and DJ Armstrong - have racked up more than 60 points this season with Craddock leading at 66 points.

Bastian also leads the team in total rebounds at 50 and also leading in blocks with five - the only Falcon with blocks so far.

Ty Briscoe has the most assist for UTPB with 18 alongside 43 points this season.

The Falcons are beating their opponents in almost every major stat category so far this season, only tied with their opponents on blocks with five apiece.