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DALLAS – Dekarai Pecikonis beat V'Keon Lacey in the race to 1,000 career receiving yards but they both turned out winners as Angelo State topped Texas A&M-Commerce 31-10 in the Harvey Martin Classic at the Cotton Bowl Saturday night.

Pecikonis, a sophomore wide receiver from Allen, hauled in a career-long 83-yard touchdown pass from Angelo State (2-0) quarterback Josh Neiswander in the second quarter to move past 1,000 yards for his career and answered an early field goal from the Lions (1-1). Not to be outdone, Lacey surpassed a grand for his career with his own touchdown catch of 33 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter, the last of three scores for Neiswander.

The trio helped Angelo State to another offensive performance of more than 300 yards, but it was the Ram defense that sealed the win. After Pecikonis' score made it 7-3 early in the second quarter, Ram defensive back Terrance Preston picked off Commerce quarterback Adam Farkes and returned it 41 yards for the score. The interception and touchdown were the first of Preston's career.

Preston wasn't the only menace to Farkes, as the Lions signal caller was sacked seven times and picked off on two other occasions. The Rams gave up 429 yards of offense in the season-opening win over Eastern New Mexico, but limited Texas A&M-Commerce to 274 yards of total offense and just 65 yards rushing.

ASU kicker George Shamblin, who served as punter and place kicker during Saturday night's contest, kicked a 29 yard field goal to open scoring in the third quarter and Neiswander found tight end Nate Bayless for the second-consecutive week to make it a 24-3 Ram advantage.

Commerce answered with a touchdown run late in the third quarter, but Lacey's touchdown in the fourth pushed the margin back to 21. Lacey, a senior who led the Lone Star Conference in catches last season, caught four passes in the contest for 72 yards and sits at 1,024 yards as a Ram. Pecikonis had three catches in the game for 111 yards and sits at 1,029 yards during his two-year career.

Angelo State has a bye week before welcoming West Texas A&M to San Angelo for Family Day and the start of Lone Star Conference South Division play.