Wildcats looking for first league win vs. SFA

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN at ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Watch (ESPN3) I Listen I Live Stats I ACU Game Notes

ABILENE – The ACU Wildcats will host Stephen F. Austin Saturday afternoon in a game to be broadcast nationally on ESPN3, and they'll carry a five-game losing streak into the game in Moody Coliseum against a team that has won four straight Southland Conference championships.

Saturday's game is set for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff and it can be heard locally on 98.1 FM (98theticket.com on the internet), and it can be seen on ESPN3 with David Saltzman (play-by-play) and Jim Haller (analyst) providing the commentary on the broadcast.

The Wildcats' losing streak reached five straight games Thursday night when they dropped an 81-76 decision to Central Arkansas. ACU is now 6-8 overall and 0-3 in the Southland Conference.

ACU is led by the trio of sophomore forward Jaren Lewis, redshirt freshman post Jalone Friday and sophomore point guard Jaylen Franklin. Lewis leads the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg), while Friday is second in both categories (13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Franklin is third in both categories (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg).

The Wildcats lost Thursday's game at the free throw line and on the glass. ACU was just 7 of 20 at the line (35.0 percent) and was out-rebounded 44-28. ACU's rebounding differential this season minus-4.5 per game (36.1-31.6).

The Lumberjacks have dominated the league in recent years, but lost at McNeese, 69-54, Monday night to snap a 26-game Southland Conference winning streak. SFA is 6-8 overall and 1-1 in the league and is 0-5 on the road.

SFA is led by Ivan Canete, who leads the team at 12.2 ppg, while T.J. Holyfield leads team in rebounding at 6.8 rpg while averaging 11.8 ppg. Junior guard Ty Charles has fought through injuries and is now back in the Lumberjacks' lineup and is averaging 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in just four games.

After Saturday's game, the Wildcats will be back home next week to host Southeastern Louisiana (7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12) and Lamar (4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14).

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Players Mentioned

Jaylen Franklin

Jalone Friday

Jaren Lewis