FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Wildcats met an unbeaten Arkansas team for a late-afternoon tilt on Tuesday. ACU would put the Razorbacks' high-powered offense to the test against their top-tier defense, but it would be Arkansas who came away with the win, 85-72. While ACU held the Razorbacks to just below their season average of 90 points, they struggled to get stops in the first half and trailed by as many as 22 early. Foul trouble limited second half minutes for both
Damien Daniels and
Reggie Miller but the Wildcats buckled down and came up with solid defensive stretches that helped them get back into the game late. ACU was able to cut the lead to as few as nine points with about three minutes to play, but Arkansas made key shots down the stretch to keep the game out of reach for the Wildcats.
Key Plays
- After trailing 11-1 early, The Wildcats went on a 7-1 run to cut the lead to four capped by two big shots from Gayman
- Kohl had a solid start to the second half with two early baskets inside to keep ACU on pace with Arkansas
- The Wildcats used a small 6-0 run to get back into the game midway through the second half with back-to-back baskets from Airion Simmons and Mahki Morris
- Clay Gayman made a three with just under four minutes to play to cut the Arkansas lead to nine points, but the Razorbacks answered with a three of their own to keep the game out of reach
Turning Point
ACU struggled to score early and allowed the Razorbacks to open the game on an 11-1 run. After cutting the early lead to as few as four, the Wildcats couldn't keep pace with Arkansas and let the game get out of reach.
Stat Pack
- Clay Gayman had the hot hand for the Wildcats going 6-9 from the field and 4-7 from deep for a season-high 18 points
- Including Gayman, the Wildcats had four players score in double figures, Coryon Mason with 12, Kolton Kohl with 11, and Joe Pleasant with 10
- The team dominated the paint, outscoring the Razorbacks 40-24 inside
- After giving up 16 first half points to Sills, ACU held him to just two points in the second half
- Arkansas had the major advantage at the free throw line going 24-30, compared to the Wildcats going 9-15
- After tallying just three assists in the first half, the Wildcats dished out 10 assists on 16 field goals in the second half
- The Wildcats also outscored Arkansas 35-27 in bench points
Up Next
The team will be back in action on Dec. 29 back in the Teague Center when they host Dallas Christian at 7 p.m.
