ACU prepares for first conference road test

HOUSTON - The Wildcats had a strong start to the new year and to conference play with their 18-point victory over Lamar. The team now faces their first conference competition on the road and are looking for their first true road win of the season. Houston Baptist will provide a true test for ACU as their league-leading defense takes on one of the most potent offenses in the Southland. The Huskies are coming off a a 99-93 overtime victory over Northwestern State to open conference play but are currently giving up over 85 points per game. The Wildcats swept the series last year with a pair of 14-point wins and held the Huskies to less than 70 points in both outings. 

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SERIES HISTORY

Since joining the Southland, the Wildcats hold a 7-3 record over the Huskies and have won four-straight contests. The teams played twice before they were conference foes, once in the 1997-98 season and once in the 2007-08 season, both wins for the Wildcats. 

ACU STORYLINES

• The Wildcats are coming off a dominant 18-point victory over Lamar to open conference play 1-0. Coryon Mason led the way with a career-high 21 points. 
• ACU continues to climb the mid-major rankings and are currently ranked No. 13 (a program best) in the College Insider poll. The team also debuted at 73 in the first NET rankings of the season, 101 spots higher than the next Southland conference school. 
• The Wildcats are on a shortened road trip since their game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was postponed from Jan. 9 to Feb. 1. 
• The team posted a season-high 21 assists on 30 made FGs in their win over Lamar. 
• ACU has totaled 114 steals on the season compared to just 61 steals by their opponents. The team is on pace to average over 10 steals per contest which would be their highest mark in a DI season. 
• The Wildcats shot .450 from deep against Lamar for their best mark since their opening week of play in Florida. 

SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST

• The Huskies are led in scoring by Pedro Castro (13.0 ppg) with Za-Ontay Boothman also averaging double figure scoring (12.4 ppg). 
• Darius Lee is coming off a career night and SLC Player of the Week performance after dropping 30 points and grabbing 10 boards off the bench in their win over Northwestern State. 
• HBU will look different this year as they lost the conference leading scorer, Ian Dubose, to graduation last year. 
• The team shoots well from the floor averaging 43 percent shooting and 40 percent from three. They have four players averaging over 43 percent from deep through their first nine games.