SAN ANGELO, Texas - Texas A&M International men's basketball (3-23, 1-19 LSC) fell to Angelo State (18-6, 14-6 LSC) in a 79-69 decision, after being down 21 points, in the regular season finale on Saturday.

Senior Caleb Highley led the Dustdevils with 16 points as well as seven rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Tom Higgins logged 14 points with four rebounds and an assist. Freshman Adrian Nosa contributed nine points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The first half was extremely close with seven lead changes and seven ties. TAMIU controlled things early with a 7-5 lead. The Rams took their first lead at 11-2. From there, the teams traded the lead back and forth for the next several minutes. ASU came out on top and went on a 6-0 run to take the advantage 18-12 with 10 minutes left in the half. The Dustdevils responded with their own 8-0 run to retake the lead 20-18. They were able to hold the Rams at bay for the next several minutes until ASU regained the lead 27-26 with 2:45 left in the period. The Rams closed out the half on a 10-2 run to take a 35-28 advantage into the intermission.

ASU kept the momentum after the break and opened the second half on a 21-6 run to take their largest lead of the game at 55-34, just five minutes into the period. TAMIU went to work slowly trimming the lead. They managed to get the deficit under double digits at 65-57 with 6:34 left. The Dustdevils got within three points at 65-62 with four minutes left, but that would be as close at they would get. The Rams took back control in the waining moments of the game and eventually took the victory 79-69.

TAMIU will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 27 as they begin the final homestand of the regular season against Tarleton.