ABILENE, Texas — It was a slow start to the afternoon for the Wildcats, leading just 9-4 at the under-12 media timeout. Their defense dominated early, but it took about 10 minutes for their offense to start rolling as well. The Lions made it a 7-4 game with a driving layup four minutes into the action and then ACU would hold them scoreless over the next eight minutes as they built an 18-point lead. ACU would push their lead to as much as 30 in the first half and held the 41-13 advantage at the break. The Wildcats picked up where they left off to start the second half and pushed their lead to 41 early, eventually earning the 76-42 victory.
Southland Significance
The Wildcats move to 3-0 in conference play to remain one of three teams still unbeaten in league play. Sam Houston sits atop the conference at 5-0 while SFA is at 3-0 as well.
Key Plays
- The Wildcats made their defensive presence known early, forcing seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of action.
- ACU put together a 15-0 run over five minutes in the first half that pushed them to an 18-point lead early.
- Coryon Mason notched a steal and a breakaway dunk with just under five minutes left in the first half to give ACU a 26-8 lead.
- Kolton Kohl made his third three of the season late in the first half that pushed the Wildcat lead to 27 points.
- Damien Daniels grabbed a steal and fed Joe Pleasant for a dunk that capped a 7-0 run to open the second half.
- Mahki Morris hit a three in the second half that gave ACU a 40-point lead just four minutes into the second half.
Turning Point
The Wildcats drowned the Lions defensively from the opening tip. Once ACU got their offense going midway through the first half the momentum was squarely in their favor.
Stat Pack
- ACU matched their season-high with 21 assists. The team had their highest assist percentage of the season, assisting on 21 of 24 baskets.
- Kohl matched a season-high 15 points, for his eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
- The Wildcats totaled a season-high 16 steals with five different players notching more than one steal on the night.
- The 13 points allowed in the first half was the lowest scoring half by an opponent since the 2019 season opener when they held Arlington Baptist to just 12 first half points.
- The team forced 30 turnovers, the second-most since their move to Division I. The team forced at least 30 turnovers twice since the jump, 30 against Jarvis Christian in 2014-15 and 35 against Dallas Christian in 2019-20. This was the highest number of turnovers forced against a DI program.
- The team eclipsed 30 bench points for the ninth time this season and they are averaging 33.3 points off the bench so far this season.
Up Next
ACU has their toughest test ahead of them when they travel to Sam Houston who sits at 5-0 in Southland play. The teams will meet Wednesday evening in the second half of a doubleheader with the women's teams, tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
