Wildcats, War Hawks to meet for first time since 1974

ABILENE — The ACU Wildcats close out the non-conference portion of the regular season Saturday afternoon when they host McMurry at Moody Coliseum.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game can be heard locally on 98.1 FM (98theticket.com) or viewed on acusports.com. ACU and McMurry haven't played since Dec. 6, 1974, when McMurry took a 75-63 victory over the Wildcats.

ACU is 10-2 on the season after last Friday night's 70-68 win over Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Wildcats' 10 wins are their best pre-conference record since the 1998-99 team started 11-0 on its way to a 20-win season and a spot in the NCAA national tournament.

The War Hawks enter Saturday's game at 4-7 on the season, having four of their last five games, including their last two contests (Dec. 20 at Texas Lutheran and Dec. 21 at Schreiner). McMurry has spent most of the early part of the season on the road and is 3-3 away from Kimbrell Arena.

ACU is led in scoring by a trio of players averaging in double figures: senior forward Jaren Lewis (15.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game), junior center Jalone Friday (13.3 ppg and 4.4 reg), and junior guard Payten Ricks (11.6 ppg). Senior point guard Jaylen Franklin is averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He has turned the ball over just 20 times in 12 games this season and his assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9 per game is one of the best in the nation.

The Wildcats rank in the top 20 in Division I basketball in three statistical categories: field goal percentage (15th at 50 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (13th at 40.4 percent), and turnover margin (sixth at plus-5.6). ACU leads the Southland Conference in each of those three categories. In addition, Ricks ranks 15th in the country in steals per game (2.58) and 13th in total steals (31), both of which lead the Southland.

McMurry is led by four players averaging in double figures on the season: junior forward Mike Williams Jr. (16.4 ppg and 7.5 reg), junior guard Zacc Carter (16.0 ppg and 4.7 reg), sophomore guard Khalil Butler (12.6 ppg and 6.8 reg), and junior guard Trevin Ramirez (10.4 ppg and 5.0 reg).

McMurry is shooting just 41.2 percent from the floor on the season, including just 35.4 percent from 3-point range. The War Hawks are allowing opponents to shoot 46.4 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from 3-point range.

ACU leads the all-time series against McMurry, 62-22, although they haven't played in 44 years. The 84 games played between the two programs represents the eighth-most games vs. an opponent in ACU history. Here are the top 10 most-frequent opponents in ACU men's basketball history:

113 games vs. Howard Payne (ACU leads 75-38)
102 games vs. Angelo State (ACU leads 59-43)
101 games vs. West Texas A&M (WTAM leads 76-25)
97 games vs. Eastern New Mexico (ACU leads 51-46)
96 games vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (series tied 48-48)
95 games vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (TAMC leads 54-41)
85 games vs. Midwestern State (MSU leads 56-29)
84 games vs. McMurry (ACU leads 62-22)
73 games vs. Tarleton State (TSU leads 42-31)
59 games vs. Wayland Baptist (WBU leads 30-29)