ABILENE – The ACU Wildcats on Thursday night return to Moody Coliseum to host Howard Payne in a non-conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The game can be heard on
98.1 FM The Ticket, and can be seen on
acusports.com.
The Wildcats are 1-1 on the season after an 86-68 win last Friday over Randall and an 83-69 loss Monday night at Arkansas State. Thursday night's game will be the season-opener for the Yellow Jackets.
The Wildcats have played no opponent more in their history than the Yellow Jackets, and they haven't beaten a team more than they have Howard Payne. ACU leads the Yellow Jackets, 74-38, with Thursday night's game the 113th matchup in a series that dates back to the 1921-22 season, the third season in ACU's history. ACU beat the Yellow Jackets, 71-55, last season in Abilene.
The Wildcats are led by a quartet of players averaging in double figure scoring through two games: sophomore center Jalone Friday (17.0 points per game), junior forward Jaren Lewis (16.0 ppg and a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game), senior guard Teven Foster (15.5 ppg), and junior guard Jaylen Franklin (14.0 ppg).
After Thursday night's game, the Wildcats have a few days off before hosting Lipscomb at 7 p.m. Monday at Moody Coliseum. The Bison – who finished 20-13 last season – have been picked to finish second in the Atlantic Sun Conference this season. Their top player – junior guard Garrison Mathews – has been named to the Lou Henson Award preseason watch list as the top Mid-Major Player in NCAA Division I basketball.
The Bison are 2-1 on the season after losing at No. 25 Alabama, 86-64, Tuesday night. Lips comb will play at Texas on Saturday before heading north to Abilene to take on the Wildcats.
