Wildcats host Schreiner in Christmas Slam contest

Schreiner at ACU

When: Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Moody Coliseum (Abilene, Texas)
Records: Schreiner 2-5; Abilene Christian 8-1
Series: ACU leads 9-0
Last Game: ACU 71, Schreiner 43 (Dec. 2, 2017 / Abilene)
Streak: ACU won 9
Last ACU win: ACU 71, Schreiner 43 (Dec. 2, 2017 / Abilene)
Last Schreiner win: N/A
Radio: 98.1 FM (98theticket.com)
Watch: StretchInternet
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats are back in Moody Coliseum for an early morning non-conference contest against Schreiner. Tipoff for the men's Christmas Slam game is set for 10:30 a.m. as the appetizer for the main course of the ACU women vs. Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference at 1 p.m.

In addition to two games, this year's Christmas Slam will feature a Christmas concession menu composed of breakfast burritos and pastries, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. Free mini Christmas bundt cakes also will be made available to the first 200 fans, and Santa Claus wlll be on hand to greet children of all ages.

ACU's Campus Store additionally will be open on the Moody Coliseum Concourse to offer a 25 percent discount on all sweatshirts. And at halftime there will be a performance from Christmas Cheer followed by a Blazing Wings Competition sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings.

The Wildcats are 8-1 on the season after Tuesday night's 83-68 home win over Campbell and off to the program's best start in the NCAA Division I era (since 2013-14). The 8-1 start is the best overall start for an ACU men's basketball team since the 1998-99 team started 11-0.

The Wildcats lead the Southland in both scoring offense (78.7 ppg) and scoring defense (allowing just 62.3 ppg), and are first in the league in offensive field goal percentage (.518) and seventh in defensive field goal percentage (.443). ACU also leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.423) fewest turnovers per game (11.2), turnover margin (plus-6.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44).

ACU senior forward Jaren Lewis is fourth in the Southland Conference in scoring at 15.6 ppg, while his rebounding average of 5.8 per game is 11th best in the league. He's also third in the league in field goal percentage (.541). Junior guard Payten Ricks leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.500) and he's third in 3-point field goals per game (2.6), while his 23 total 3-point field goals are tied for second int he league behind the 28 put up by Jeremiah Jefferson of Nicholls. Ricks also leads the league in steals with 22, thanks in part to the seven he had Tuesday night vs. Campbell, setting a new ACU Division I-era single-game record.

Senior guard Jaylen Franklin leads the league in total assists (46), assists per game (5.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4.6), and is second in the league in fewest turnovers (10).

Schreiner is 2-5 on the season and hasn't played since a 103-80 loss at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Nov. 26. The Mountaineers are led by 6-6 sophomore Matthew Rindahl, who is averaging 16.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Mountaineers have turned the ball over 116 times through seven games (16.6 per game) and are giving up 87.9 ppg.

After Saturday's game against Schreiner, the Wildcats will be off until next Saturday (Dec. 15) when they take on Texas Tech at 6 p.m. in the Red Raiders' annual Throwback Game. Next Saturday's game between the Wildcats and the 13th-ranked Red Raiders is a special one because it will be played at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum where Tech played from 1956-99 before moving into the United Supermarkets Arena on campus. The game between the Wildcats and Red Raiders will be the final game played in the coliseum before it is demolished next spring to make way for new construction on the site.