Box Score ANGELO, Tex. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team held a pair of five-point leads early in the first half and trailed by just seven at the break before Angelo State University expanded the lead on their way to the 64-47 victory Saturday night.


Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) came out ready connecting on a layup and then a three-pointer for the 5-0 WNMU (0-3) lead four minutes in. Following ASU's (6-0) first points nearly six minutes into the game, CJ Grigg (Reno, NV/) came back with a jumper to push the lead back to five at 7-2.


The Rams answered with a 7-0 run to take their first lead at 9-7 at the 12:21 mark. The Mustangs later moved back in front on a jumper from Joshua Velasquez (El Paso, TX/Hanks) at the 6:24 mark giving WNMU a 16-15 lead. That would end up being the last lead for the Mustangs with ASU outscoring WNMU by eight over the final minutes of the first half to take a 30-23 lead at halftime.


The pressure from the Rams continued early in the second half as they went on a 6-0 run to take a 36-23 lead just over two minutes in. The Mustangs countered with their own run, a 4-0 variety with baskets from Edward Estavillo (Wilcox, AZ/Wilcox) and Kesler to trim the deficit back under double-digits at 36-27.


WNMU continued to chip away as they would get as close as seven at the midway point of the second stanza on a trey by Estavillo for the 44-37 ASU lead. A 4-0 run by the Rams ensued and they wouldn't look back on their way to taking the victory.


Estavillo came off the bench to lead the Mustangs with 12 points, including three, three-pointers. Kesler also found his way into double-figures with 10 and Grigg has eight. Bryan Hammond led ASU and all-scorers with 19 points.


ASU shot 54 percent (22-41) to 34 percent (17-50) by WNMU. WNMU made four more three-pointers (6-2) and ASU held an 11-point edge in free throws made (18-7).


WNMU will now prepare to open RMAC play at Colorado Mines on Dec. 6 with gametime at 7 p.m.