ABILENE — For several seconds Tuesday, most in attendance at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum, including the Robert Lee basketball team itself, thought the Steers were headed to the Region II-1A Division II championship game.

Leading 42-40 as Keegan Hayes’ desperation heave from beyond half court fell harmlessly to the floor, coach Steven Hayes’ squad — and those who made the trip to Abilene to cheer it on — erupted in celebration, thinking the Steers had pulled off a wild come-from-behind victory over the two-time defending state qualifier Benjamin Mustangs.

But those cheers turned to confusion and then heartache when a whistle, inaudible under the cheers of the Robert Lee faithful, sent Hayes to the free-throw line, where he knocked down the second and third of three foul shots to send the game to overtime. And the Mustangs outscored the Steers 8-4 from there to pull off an improbable 50-46 win that even BHS coach Aaron Kuehler was struggling to wrap his head around after the fact.