Aggies overcome cold shooting, Angelo State

GAME BOXSCORE >>

LAWTON, Okla. (Jan. 15) - Cameron shot just 29.8 percent from the field, but owned a 31-8 scoring advantage at the free throw line against Angelo State Saturday at Aggie Gym.

Coach Garrette Mantle's Aggies cashed in 31-of-35 charity attempts in the game, improving to 12-3 on the season with a 67-57 win over the Rams. The effort for Cameron, which finished just 6-21 last season, doubled the Aggies' win total from a year ago.

Despite the poor shooting, three Cameron players managed to score in double figures against ASU. Junior Eric Moore led all players with 19 points, including converting the only two three-pointers for Cameron in the game. Arthur Trousdell added his second straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Justin Harris chipped in 11 points.

Rashawn Childs led Angelo State (7-8) with 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field. Dustin Patton and Royce Hall added 12 points apiece for the Rams.

Both teams struggled early but it was Angelo State that missed its first six shots from the field to spot Cameron an early 12-0 lead. The Rams rallied with a 12-2 run that made it 14-12 Aggies midway through the half and managed to tie the score at 22-22 with 3:21 left before intermission. But despite converting just 9-of-37 field goal attempts in the period, Cameron was a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line and never trailed in the first half.

Angelo State tried to rally several times in the second half, but each time the Aggies answered. Kenny Smith pulled the Rams to within two at 38-36 with a jumper at the 16:08 mark and Hall made it a three-point game just two minutes later. But ASU would get no closer as Cameron continued to use the free throw line to its advantage. The Aggies were 19-of-23 from the charity stripe in the second half, including 8-of-10 in the final two minutes of the game.

Cameron also benefitted from a decided advantage on the glass. The Aggies outrebounded Angleo State 46-33 and limited the Rams to just four offensive rebounds. ASU entered the week leading the LSC with an average of 14.8 offensive boards per game.

"I thought that was the stat of the game," Mantle said following the win. "They're the best offensive rebounding team in the conference and we hold them to just four - that's pretty good."

The Aggies wrapped up LSC crossover action with a 7-2 record against teams from the LSC South Division this year. Cameron will look to carry over that success to divisional play next week, travelling to Ada for the LSC North opener Thursday against East Central.