ABILENE – The Abilene Christian men's and women's basketball teams travel to Incarnate Word Wednesday night as the Lone Star Conference regular season enters its final two weeks.
Grant Boone will handle the play-by-play call for both games on KSLI 1280-AM and will begin his broadcast prior to the women's 5:30 p.m. tip off.
ACU's men's team begins the week with an 11-13 overall record and 3-11 mark against the conference following Saturday's 79-68 win over Eastern New Mexico. The victory kept the Wildcats even with Angelo State for the eighth and final spot at the Lone Star Conference postseason championship.
The ACU women also defeated Eastern New Mexico, 74-61, in improving to 9-13 and 4-12, but still remain two full games behind the 6-10 Zias with only four dates remaining.
The Wildcats had a tough time scoring against the Cardinals in their first meeting back at Moody Coliseum on Jan. 3, as they were outscored 24-4 over the first eight minutes of the second half. ACU made only one of their first 12 shots to start the second half, while Incarnate Word went 11-of-16 from the floor during that same span.
The Cardinals stretched their lead all the way to 25 points before ACU made a late charge led by
Kelsey Smith's 19 points and six rebounds.
ACU's men's team also fell at home to the Cardinals, 70-65. The Wildcats trailed by double digits through most of the second half before going on a 9-0 run to get within six points at the 3:30 mark.
Incarnate Word seemingly tried to give the game away, rushing shots, committing fouls and turnovers and giving the Wildcats extra possessions down the stretch. ACU cut the lead to 65-61 with 1:19 to play on a pair of
Kendall Durant free throws, but that was as close as the home team would get the rest of the night.
The Incarnate Word men (15-9, 10-6 LSC) have won 9 of its last 11 games since their first meeting with the Wildcats, with their lone defeats coming against Eastern New Mexico and Midwestern State. The Cardinals beat first-place Tarleton State earlier this month at home, 62-51.
The Cardinal women begin the week at 12-11 and 7-10 against the conference, just a half game ahead of 6-10 Eastern New Mexico. Incarnate Word defeated Cameron 79-74 in double overtime its last time out, but had lost five of its last six prior to that victory.
ACU Basketball Schedule Note
The ACU men's and women's basketball teams have rescheduled their final home games of the regular season vs. Texas A&M-Commerce for Wednesday, Feb. 22. The women's game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. with the men's game to follow immediately.
The change was made in order to give the Wildcats two full days off after its Sunday doubleheader vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville.
