West Texas A&M (19-9, 11-7) vs. Angelo State (16-13, 7-11)
Date	Thursday, February 26 | 7:30 p.m.
Location	Canyon, Texas | First United Bank Center
Follow Along	Live Stats
Watch Live	FloCollege (Pay-Per-View)
Additional Links	Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – The Buffs of West Texas A&M return to the First United Bank Center on Thursday night as they host the Angelo State Rams in Lone Star Conference action on Legacy Night with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. in Canyon.
 
TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL REWIND
The Buffs closed out their regular season road schedule in style on Saturday afternoon with a 77-64 win over Texas A&M International. LSC Offensive Player of the Week Brock Mishak led the way with 24 points, including four 3-pointers, and contributed five rebounds and three assists. Fontaine Williams added 16 points, converting two 3-pointers while also dishing out five assists.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Angelo State enters the final week of the regular season with an overall record of 16-13 with a 7-11 mark in Lone Star Conference action to sit tied for ninth in the league standings. The Rams are just 2-8 so far this season away from the Junell Center with road wins coming at Texas A&M International and UT Permian Basin.
 
Last week saw the Rams fall to #10 Lubbock Christian (77-72) on Thursday night before responding with a 80-67 win over Midwestern State in San Angelo. The Rams shot 49.2% (30-of-61) from the floor including 42.3% (11-of-26) from behind the arc while forcing 15 Mustang turnovers. Jhordan Ryan led the way for the Rams, going 10-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the stripe for 24 points along with 12 boards for a double-double.
 
Quadir Pettaway leads the way offensively for the Rams as the junior guard from Newport News, Virginia has gone 68-of-160 (42.5%) from the floor in his 18 games played to average 10.8 points per contest with 30 rebounds, 18 assists and 15 steals. The Presbyterian University transfer has reached double-figures in nine contests highlighted by a 22-point performance at UT Permian Basin back on January 29th.
 
ASU HEAD COACH VINAY PATEL
Vinay Patel is now in his fourth season at the helm of the Angelo State men's basketball program. The Shamrock, Texas native holds an overall record of 78-43 during his time in San Angelo with a career record of 199-138. He was tabbed the LSC Co-Coach of the Year in 2023 as well as the Dave Campbell's Non-D1 Basketball Coach of the Year that season.
 
Patel is no stranger to the Texas Panhandle as he spent eight years as an assistant at West Texas A&M under Rick Cooper, helping the Buffs to an overall record of 164-93 and five trips to the NCAA Tournament. Patel's head coaching stops include Oklahoma City University and Northwestern Oklahoma State.
 
THE SERIES
Thursday night marks the 88th all-time meeting on the hardwood between the Buffs and Rams in a series that dates back to 1981. The Buffs hold a 60-27 advantage in the series as Angelo State is 7-36 all-time in Canyon including 4-20 inside of the First United Bank Center.
 
The last meeting saw the Rams shoot 42.9% (21-of-49) from the floor while holding the Buffs to just a 33.9% shooting clip (20-of-59) in a 62-59 victory by Angelo State in Canyon on February 8, 2025. Narit Chotikavanic and Noah Pagotto both scored 18 points to lead the Buffs followed by Mackenzie Morgan with 14 points. 
 
WT HEAD COACH TOM BROWN
Tom Brown, now in his 12th season at the helm of the West Texas A&M men's basketball program, has built the Buffs into one of the elite NCAA Division II programs in the nation.  He has guided WT to nine consecutive NCAA Tournaments including the Buffs first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2021. Brown reached the 300-win plateau with an 87-68 victory at Cameron on February 5, 2026.
 
Brown was hired as the 17th head coach in program history on April 16, 2014. In the past 10 seasons, Coach Brown and his staff are 284-71 (.799) and an average of 27 wins a season with appearances in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four (2) and National Title game. During his time in Canyon, Brown is 304-84 (.783) overall and 165-50 (.766) in league action. 
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
Defending Regional Champion Dallas Baptist claimed 42 of the possible 51 first place votes for a total of 850 points to sit atop of the poll followed by St. Mary's (two first place, 724), Lubbock Christian (four first place, 720), St. Edward's (669) and West Texas A&M (two first place, 654) to round out the top five.
 
Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico tied for sixth with 592 points followed by Midwestern State (558), UT Permian Basin (468), Texas A&M International (one first place, 350), Texas A&M-Kingsville (330), Cameron (301), Oklahoma Christian (266), UT Tyler (260), Western New Mexico (193), UT Dallas (188) and Sul Ross State (88).
 
LIVE COVERAGE 
The LSC and FloSports reached a historic agreement in August of 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. Fans have two different subscription options: $19.99 per month or $107.88 per year ($8.99/month). Additionally, those who use an .edu email address from an LSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $71.88 per year ($5.99/month).
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES (FEB. 23)
With just one week remaining in the Lone Star Conference men's basketball regular season, DBU (22-6 overall) is in sole possession of first place in the standings at 16-2. No. 9 Eastern New Mexico (22-4) and No. 10 Lubbock Christian (24-4) are tied for second place at 15-3.
 
Western New Mexico (21-5, 14-4 LSC), No. 14 St. Edward's (24-6, 13-6 LSC), St. Mary's (18-8, 11-7 LSC), West Texas A&M (19-9, 11-7 LSC) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (13-13, 10-8 LSC) round out the top eight teams.
 
DBU has won seven straight games, while LCU has prevailed in four consecutive matchups. TAMUK upset ENMU 83-75 on Feb. 21 to snap the Greyhounds' 10-game winning streak. WNMU has won five in a row, and WT is on a three-game winning streak.
 
LCU's Amondo Miller Jr. (20.6) and WT's Fontaine Williams Jr. (20.0) are in a tight race for the league scoring title. SEU's Blake Nielson is close behind at 18.2 points per game.
 
LCU's Antonio Pusateri is in the only player in the league averaging double digit rebounds per game (10.7). DBU's Xavion Brown and UT Dallas' Peyton Dulin share the assists lead at 4.5 per game. ENMU's Jose Murillo leads in blocks per game (2.0), while teammate Cooper Jackson is tops in steals per game (3.1). In non-conference play, LSC teams have gone 40-24 against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams.