MBB's three-game road trip begins at UIW

SAN ANTONIO – The Wildcat men’s basketball team is in the midst of three games in six days, and opens a three-game road trip on Saturday against the University of the Incarnate Word. ACU (13-5, 5-1 SLC) takes its top-ranked scoring defense into the McDermott Center to take on UIW (6-7, 3-3 SLC). The Cardinals rank third in the Southland in field goal percentage and go up against the Wildcats’ conference-best shooting defense at 2 p.m. The game was moved up from 6:30 p.m. after the women’s game was canceled due to COVID-19.

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SERIES HISTORY

UIW leads the all-time series 13-7, but ACU has won each of the last six games. The Wildcats swept last season, including a thrilling overtime win in what turned out to be the season finale. ACU held on 71-68 after Reggie Miller hit a three with just 30 seconds left in overtime. The win sealed back-to-back 20-win seasons for the program for the first time ever. ACU looks for its fifth win in San Antonio Saturday as well.

ACU STORYLINES

• ‘CATS AXE ‘JACKS IN TEAGUE: The Wildcats picked up a massive win over the Lumberjacks on Wednesday night to remain undefeated in Teague on the season. ACU used a 16-3 run in the second half to run away, 82-62. It was the largest margin of victory over SFA for ACU.
• PERFECT AT HOME: ACU is now 9-0 at home for the second time in the last three seasons; the Wildcats started 11-0 at home in the 2018-19 season.
• DEFENSIVE RANKS: ACU remains No. 1 in the country in forced turnovers per game (22.6) and turnover margin (+8.5). The Wildcats are No. 3 nationally in steals per game (10.0). The team continues to force tough shots, ranking No. 18 in opponent field goal percentage (38.8).
• SPREADING THE WEALTH: ACU continues to have NINE players averaging at least five points per game this season. The ‘Cats spread the ball each time down and rank in the top 25 nationally in assists per game (17.3).
• LEADING SCORER: Redshirt senior Kolton Kohl leads the way at 11.4 points per game, and is averaging 15 points per game in the last six contests. Kohl is shooting 56% from the floor and is averaging 4.5 rebounds as well.
• BENCH SUCCESS: ACU averaging nearly 35 bench points per game. The team has had a remarkable 13 players have at least one game where they score in double-figures as well. That is tied with Murry State for the most in the country.
• QUICK TURNAROUND: The team will not return home after the game at UIW. ACU will continue on the road, heading south to Corpus Christi for a game on Monday, Feb. 1 that was rescheduled from Jan. 9. That game will tip at 7 p.m.

SCOUTING UIW (6-7, 3-3 SLC)

• The Cardinals are coming off a loss to Houston Baptist at home on Wednesday, 73-57, and close out a crazy long five-game home stand on Saturday.
• UIW is averaging 71 points per game under third-year coach Dr. Carson Cunningham, and rank third in the Southland in shooting percentage (46.7).
• The Cardinals are barely under .500 and barely in the negative in scoring margin for the season at -8.
• Keaston Willis leads the team in scoring by a wide margin at 19.0 points per game, and has taken almost 130 more shots than his next closest teammate.
• UIW has been good at holding teams from behind the arc. The Cardinals are allowing just 28% shooting from distance, the ninth-best total in the country.