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SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team returns to action against Abilene Christian at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the final game against the Wildcats at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center as Lone Star Conference rivals.

The Rams (5-11, 2-6 LSC) and Wildcats (8-8, 2-6 LSC) have met 102 times dating back to the 1965 season with ACU holding a 58-44 all-time advantage in the series. The two teams will also play each other in a 7:30 p.m. game on Saturday at ACU's Moody Coliseum which will be the final LSC regular-season matchup between Angelo State and Abilene Christian as the Wildcats are leaving the conference after this season for the Southland Conference. ACU won the first ever meeting 80-79 on Dec. 2, 1965.

“I always look forward to playing Abilene because it's always a battle,” ASU head coach Fred Rike said. “It's a big game for us. We have to take care of our home floor and then try to steal some on the road.”

Angelo State comes into Wednesday's game having won two its last three games after dropping a 100-83 decision last Saturday at Incarnate Word. The Rams are 5-3 at home this season and are averaging 88.6 points per game in their last three games.

“We have been playing better offensively,” Rike said. “We are attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. We just have to continue doing what we're doing offensively.”

Bryan Hammond has led the Rams in scoring the last four games, including scoring a career-high 26 points against the Cardinals. Hammond, who was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, is averaging 9.8 points per game this season and has also added 43 assists, 15 steals and 39 rebounds. He has turned up his attacking mentality the past couple of weeks and is getting to the free-throw line where he has shined. He made 13 free throws against Texas A&M-Kingsville last Wednesday and 10 at UIW.

Jovan Austin continues to lead the Rams in scoring for the season with 12.5 points per game and 54 assists. The freshman also has 29 rebounds and a team-leading 26 steals this season. Antonio Dye is adding 11.7 points per game, while Chris Talkington is scoring 11.4 and Dakota Rawls 11.1. Rawls leads the team with 80 rebounds this season and is shooting 85 percent on 41 attempts from the free-throw line.

As a team, the Rams are shooting 40 percent from the floor this season and 35 percent on 3-pointers. ASU is at 70 percent from the free-throw line and has 32 fewer turnovers this season than its opponents.
 
Abilene Christian comes into the game having won three of its last four games, but like the Rams, enter Wednesday's contest following a conference road loss. The Wildcats dropped a 74-65 decision to the Javelinas in Kingsville on Saturday. ACU is shooting 47 percent from the floor this season, including making 105 3-pointers (38 percent).

Eric Lawton lead Abilene Christian this season at 17.1 points per game and also with 72 assists. The senior is in his first season at ACU after transferring from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Steven Werner is adding 12.6 points and Elliot Lloyd another 11.9 for the Wildcats who are averaging 73.8 points per game as a team this season. Werner, who is also a senior in his first season in Abilene after transferring from Sam Houston State, is leading the Wildcats with 105 rebounds and 18 blocked shots.

“We have to protect the basket and the paint,” Rike said. “Incarnate Word hit a lot of 3s early and then spread us out. We worked on transition defense today and have to limit them to one shot.”

Parker Wentz and Cornelius Cammock add to the offensive production with 8.8 points per game, while Dosh Simms is at 7.2. Behind the 3-point line, Lawton has made 36 shots, Lloyd 33 and Went 28. ACU is 2-4 away from Moody Coliseum this season.

Both games of the rivalry series against Abilene Christian this week will be carried on 1260AM KKSA with Jeremy Bryant on the call.