Six days after winning a coin flip over Tarleton State to decide the seeding in the LSC Championship, Angelo State edged them again on the court, despite a furious second-half comeback by the Texans.
After watching a 13-point lead disappear in less than four minutes, thanks to TSU’ 16-2 run, Angelo State managed to regroup just in time to survive Tarleton State, 81-73, in the semifinals of the LSC Championship.
The Rams got clutch free-throw shooting from LSC Newcomer of the Year Tre Bennett, who was fouled attempting a 3-pointer in the final minute of play with a two-point lead. Bennett nailed all three shots, and his teammates followed with three more down the stretch to advance ASU in the final round for the second straight year.
Angelo State not only improves to 23-5, but keeps their chances alive of improving on their No. 2 ranking in the South Central Region with a chance to host next week’s tournament. ASU could likely move into the top spot if they win Saturday night’s final against the winner of Cameron and Midwestern State, the current No. 1 team in the region. The Texans fall to 21-8 but will look to do some damage in the regional, where they currently rank fourth.
The two teams not only split the regular-season series, but finished with identical 9-5 records. After all of the conference tiebreaker procedures couldn’t separate the two, it went down to a coin flip. And late in this game Friday, it seemed to be a 50-50 affair again.
Now down by a point, ASU got a big three from Bennett, but Tarleton answered with a 3-pointer by EJ Reed, who hit three from beyond the arc during the Texans’ big second-half run. Bennett then returned with two free throws to regain a 72-71 lead. After two foul shots by teammates Steadman Allen, Bennett hit four of his next five to put the game away.
Bennett’s 19 points led the scoring for the Rams, who got 14 from Omari Gudul and 13 from Quay King.
Tarleton had five in double-figure scoring, led by Romond Jenkins’ 16 points and 16 rebounds. E.J. Reed had 13 – 11 in the second half – while Michael Hardge had 11 and Malcolm Hamilton and Chantz Chambers scored 10 each.
The Texans are traditionally one of the best defensive teams in the country, but ASU managed just nine turnovers on offense. They also hit 12 of 18 field goal attempts in the second half.
Angelo State Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk2MG3K8qo8
Tarleton State Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb-3saig5l8
Angelo State Notes
- Second straight LSC Tournament final appearance and eighth overall
- First LSC Tournament meeting between Angelo State and Tarleton State
- With 19 points against the Texans, Angelo State’s Tre Bennett has hit double-digit scoring in his last 19 contests
- Omari Gudul had 14 points which was his 12th double-digit game of the season.
- Finished the game with six unanswered points
- Both teams split the regular season meetings
- Was outscored 34 to 26 in the paint
- Angelo State is now 20-25 in the Lone Star Conference Tournament and 5-2 in the Allen Event Center
- 8-0 record on a neutral court this season?
Tarleton State Notes
- Tarleton State falls to 21-8 on the season
- The Texans faced Angelo State for the first time in LSC Tournament history
- Tarleton State is 28-15 in the postseason tournament, 10-5 in the semifinal games, 10-3 at the Allen Event Center and 6-3 as the No. 3 seed
- Romond Jenkins recorded a double-double for the second straight day with a career-high 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. It’s his second career double-double as a Texan
- Jenkins made his first 14 field goal attempts at the LSC Tournament. He was 6-for-6 against Texas A&M-Commerce in the quarterfinals and made his first eight shots against ASU in the semifinals before finishing the game 8-for-9.
- The Texans had five players in double figures in scoring for third time this season