ABILENE – ACU jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the game, but battling for a post-season berth Michael Loyd poured in 23 points as Midwestern State downed the Wildcats, 82-73, in the regular season finale at Moody Coliseum.
The Wildcats end their season 9-17 and just 1-13 in the Lone Star Conference as the Mustangs needing a win to advance to the conference tournament next week in Bartlesville, Oklahoma improved to 21-7 and 9-5 in the LSC. MSU will enter next week's tournament as either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed with the win depending on the Eastern New Mexico/West Texas A&M contest.
ACU raced out to an early 11-0 lead, but Loyd would score the first nine points for MSU before Keonte Logan hit back-to-back three pointers to tie the game at 17-17. The Mustangs would take the lead on a Chris Hagan trey and take a 40-34 lead into the locker room.
Midwestern State would push their lead to 11 points as well to open the second half, but the Wildcats were not about to make it easy for the Mustangs.
Zach Williams hit a jumper with 6:39 left to complete a 14-2 run and give ACU a, 70-67 lead.
Momentum would go back and forth as Loyd would hit a three to put MSU back on top; however,
Preston Davis would sink two free throws knotting the game at 72-72, with 4:31 left to play. It would be the last closest ACU would get for the remainder of the game.
MSU would finish the game on a 10-1 run and hold the Wildcats without a field goal in the final six minutes of the contest.
Senior
Giordan Cole was solid from the field for the Wildcats going 8 of 14 to finish with 18 points to lead ACU in scoring.
Loyd led all scorers with 23 points followed by Darrick Thomas with 20 points and one rebound shy of a double-double finishing with nine.
