SAN ANGELO – A last-second 3-point attempt to force overtime rimmed out as the buzzer sounded on a 59-56 Lone Star Conference loss for the Angelo State men's basketball team against Abilene Christian on Wednesday at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.

The Rams (5-12, 2-7 LSC) led the game 48-46 with 15:41 remaining, but went on a scoreless streak that spanned 12 minutes and 52 seconds before a pair of 3-pointers by Chris Talkington and Antonio Dye put them right back in the game in the final two minutes of the game. ACU (9-8, 3-6 LSC) closed the game on a 5-2 run to earn the win and force Angelo State to win on Saturday in Abilene to even the season series between the two teams.

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Angelo State took 34-33 advantage into the locker room at halftime after making five 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws in the first half. The second half saw the Rams hit another four 3-pointers, but the Rams did not attempt a single free throw after the break.

“I think we got too occupied with the zone and we didn't attack,” ASU head coach Fred Rike said. “Because of that we didn't shoot any free throws in the second half. We played good enough defensively to win tonight.”

Bryan Hammond, Dye and Dakota Rawls each led Angelo State with 13 points, while Talkington added 11 points and a team-leading eight rebounds. Jovan Austin contributed five assists, while Dye added seven rebounds. Dye, who made a 3-pointer with 2:14 remaining in the game to give ASU a 54-52 lead, just missed on his last 3-point attempt which would have sent the game to overtime.

ASU, which shot 28.3 percent from the floor, was outrebounded 39-29 in the game and was outscored 22-14 in the paint. The Rams finished the game shooting 9 of 25 from beyond the arc with Rawls, Talkington and Dye each having three 3-pointers

Eric Lawton led Abilene Christian with 18 points and had six rebounds, while Dosh Simms contributed a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Cornelius Cammock joined his teammates in double-figures with a 12-point effort, while Lawton led the team with three assists and scored 12 of his 18 points on 3-pointers.

The two teams square off for the final time as Lone Star Conference rivals in the regular season at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at ACU's Moody Coliseum.

“We have to get ready and go get one in Abilene now,” Rike said.