Box Score | Season Stats

ABILENE, Texas - - For the second straight night, the Truman men's basketball team mounted a ferocious second-half rally, closing a 14-point deficit to two in the waning seconds, but Angelo (Texas) State was able to hold on and defeat the Bulldogs 69-63 in the final game of the ACU Classic on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (0-2) got out to a quick 10-3 lead, getting early three-pointers by junior Tom Norton and sophomore Isaac Gardner  But after Angelo (1-1) took a 29-24 lead into the intermission, the Rams then pushed the margin to 44-30 with 14:23 to play in the game. Truman then begin its charge back, closing the gap to five in front of an ASU run that pushed the lead back up to 15 points at 60-45 at the 6:09 mark.

But once again, the Bulldog defense ratcheted up in the closing minutes, holding the Rams scoreless for the next 5+ minutes, allowing Truman to get to within two at 60-58 when junior EJ Hicks converted a hoop-and-harm with 53 seconds to play. The Rams would get the margin back to five on two occasions, enough to hold the Bulldogs at bay and pick up the six-point victory.

Norton led all players with 20 points and shared the team-lead in three-pointers (4) with Gardner, who finished with 12 points. Redshirt freshman Mike Carlson scored 18, reaching double-figures for the second straight night, and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Hicks came off the bench to score five points and dish five assists, as Truman shot 39.2% from the floor on the night and went 9-for-24 from distance.

The 'Dogs return to Kirksville on Tuesday night for a 7:30 pm showdown with Central Christian (Mo.) in their 2011-12 home opener.