San Antonio – Darren Lee and Kevin Kotzur combined to score 45 points, sparking a second half rally as St. Mary’s University defeated Angelo State University, 84-79, in non-conference men’s basketball action Thursday afternoon at Bill Greehey Arena.

Lamarshall Corbett led the Rams to a big early lead in the first half, scoring 14 points in the first period. The lead was still seven points with 1:58 left in the first half after a driving layup by Kamarachi Onyirioha. That was when the Rattlers started their rally. Darren Lee (Sr., Stockton, Calif.) and Kevin Kotzur (Fr., La Vernia, Texas) ended the half with baskets to pull the Rattlers to within three points at 37-34 at the break.

St. Mary’s took that momentum and turned the game around early on the second half. Kotzur and Lee each had four as the Rattlers completed a 19-5 run that gave them a 49-42 lead with 13:41 left to play. That lead would expand to as much as nine points and ASU never led again.

Lee led the Rattlers with 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 11-of-14 shooting from three-point range. Kotzur made 10-of-14 shots from the field to top 20 points for the fourth time this season. He also pulled down eight rebounds and had two blocks. Also scoring in double figures for the Rattlers was Curtis Mitchell (Sr., Milwaukee) with 16 points and Jeremy Fonteneaux (So., DeSoto, Texas) added 10 points off the bench.

As a team the Rattlers shot 50.0 percent (26-52) from the field, including 61.5 percent (16-26) in the second half. St. Mary’s outrebounded the Rams, 33-24, and made 27-of-35 free throws.

With the win St. Mary’s improved to 5-6 this season, while Angelo State fell to 6-5. The Rattlers have now won two straight games heading into their next game, against Lincoln University at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Bill Greehey Arena. The game is the second of a women’s/men’s doubleheader. The women will take the court at 2 p.m.

St. Mary’s (Texas) 84, Angelo State 79
12/31/09 5:01 p.m. at Bill Greehey Arena, San Antonio, TX

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