SAN ANTONIO — The Wildcats had a lot on the line Saturday afternoon. The team had a chance to lock up a double-bye in the conference tournament, earn their 20
th win, and secure back-to-back 20-win regular seasons for the first time in program history. ACU was presented with the challenge and humbly accepted as they played a tough road game to close out the season. UIW had already been eliminated from conference tournament contention, the Cardinals were primed to take down the defending champs to close out their season.
ACU showed up defensively in the first half, holding the Cardinals to just 27 points, but the team struggled to score themselves and put up only 22 points in the first 20 minutes. As the shots began to fall in the second half for the Wildcats, it seemed UIW was always there with an answer to hold off the comeback. In the final minutes of regulation, the teams traded baskets but the game would go to overtime with the game tied at 61.
The Cardinals came out firing in overtime and hit two quick buckets to take a five-point lead early. Free throws from
Payten Ricks and a layup from
Coryon Mason cut their lead to one, but UIW drew a foul on the other end and pushed their lead back to three. In familiar fashion, Ricks was fouled on a three-point attempt and proceeded to sink all three shots to tie the game at 68. The Wildcat defense held up on the other end and the Wildcats had the ball with 49 seconds left to play.
Payten Ricks once again made his presence felt as he drove towards the lane and kicked the ball out to a wide-open
Reggie Miller who hit the three to give ACU the lead with 30 seconds to play. UIW was able to get two shots off towards the end but it was
Tobias Cameron who came up with the defensive rebound to end the game and give the Wildcats the win.
Southland Significance
The Wildcats clinched the two-seed and the double-bye in Katy with their win as well as wins from Northwestern State and SFA.
Key Plays
- With the Wildcats struggling to score in the first half, Airion Simmons hit two huge threes that helped keep them in the game.
- ACU held the Cardinals scoreless for over five minutes of game time in the first half.
- The Wildcats didn't score over the last 3:39 of the first half.
- Reggie Miller started the second half with back-to-back layup to cut into the Cardinal lead.
- Tobias Cameron tied the game at 36 when he drove the baseline for a layup.
- The Wildcats got back-to-back dunks from Clay Gayman and Coryon Mason that turned a three-point deficit into a one-point lead with ten minutes left to play.
- Mason made two layups with under two minutes to play to help force overtime.
- Payten Ricks hit five clutch free throws in overtime to keep ACU within reach of UIW.
- Reggie Miller hit a three with 30 seconds left to play that sealed the victory for ACU.
Turning Point
After the Cardinals scored the first five points of overtime, the Wildcats outscored them 10-2 the rest of the way to secure the win.
Gold Mine
Stat Pack
- Gayman led the way for the Wildcats with 16 points and seven rebounds.
- Miller's nine points was an ACU career-high and he also dished out five assists on the night.
- The game had eight lead changes and was tied 11 times.
- The Wildcats' bench outscored the Cardinals bench 27-17.
- The Wildcats forced 15 turnovers and totaled seven steals, Damien Daniels led the way with three steals on the night.
- This is just the second win in 13 times that the Wildcats have won after being tied or trailing with two minutes left in regulation.
- Ricks scored just seven points, but went 5-5 from the free throw line in overtime and totaled six rebounds and three assists in the game.
Up Next
The Wildcats will be in Katy next week for the Southland Conference Tournament. ACU will play their first game on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with their opponent to be determined.
