By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
SAN ANGELO (January 5, 2017) — Tarleton State built a 10-point lead without its best player, then blew Angelo State out of its own gym with him.
Romond Jenkins played just 32 seconds before getting his second foul in the first half, yet No. 9 Tarleton built a 39-29 halftime advantage anyway. When Jenkins came back, he scored 20 points in the second half, and No. 9 Tarleton pulled away for a dominating 92-60 road victory over No. 5 ASU in a top 10 Lone Star Conference showdown at Stephens Arena Thursday night.
It was the 10th straight win for Tarleton (13-1, 5-0) and knocked ASU (10-1, 2-1) from the ranks of unbeatens. The Texans are the only team without an LSC loss, thanks to Midwestern State upending No. 11 West Texas A&M, 84-78, in Wichita Falls Thursday.
Jenkins began the second half by dunking an alley-oop for his first points of the game. He continued to dominate inside and had 16 points when he checked out for a breather with 9:54 to play.
But one could still argue the best player on the court was Chantz Chambers, who actually began his college career at ASU three years ago. Chambers finished with career highs of 22 points and six steals. He was 10-16 shooting and also had five rebounds and three assists.
“I think because it came here against my old team where it all started for me, this is definitely the best game of my career,” said Chambers. “To do it here at ASU, like I said, where it all started, just means so much.”
Chambers knew Tarleton needed more people stepping up when Jenkins was forced to check out less than a minute into the game.
“Romond Jenkins is such a threat inside both rebounding and scoring so you know when he goes out that everybody has to step up their game to make up for him not being out there, and that’s what I thought we did,” said Chambers. “Then when he came back, it was like we were firing on all cylinders.”
Indeed. The Texans won by their widest margin on the road since drubbing McMurry 88-58 in Abilene on February 25, 2015, and scored their most points away from home since a 92-82 win at Eastern New Mexico on February 22, 2014. Chambers and Jenkins gave the Texans two 20-point scorers for the first time this season.
Tarleton shot 54.5 percent including 43.5 percent from the arc, and enjoyed a robust 41-28 advantage on the backboards. The Texans also had nine less turnovers than the Rams, who gave it away 23 times including 14 on Tarleton steals.
Anthony Davis scored 11 and Josh Hawley 10, much of their damage helping Tarleton through the first half without Jenkins. Curtiss Anderson only scored four, but was also big for the Texans, chewing up minutes until Jenkins returned to dominate the second half.
The Texans limited ASU to 35.4 shooting – the Rams entered the game hitting 49 percent for the year – including just 26.1 percent from the arc. The Rams were led by Quay King with 17 points but he also had five turnovers. Lorenzo Dillard scored 10, going 7-8 at the foul stripe.
Tarleton must put the big win behind them with the always pesky trip to A&M-Kingsville ahead. The Texans left San Angelo for Kingsville immediately following the win, and visit the Javelinas at 4 p.m. Saturday following a 2 p.m. women’s contest.
“We know we have a target on us and we have to bring it every game, not just this game,” said Chambers. “Especially with (West Texas A&M) losing tonight, that just makes the target that much bigger because we’re the only team that hasn’t lost in conference.”
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