ABILENE, Texas — ACU hosted the Sam Houston Bearkats on Wednesday night in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Southland standings. In a game that featured three ties and nine lead changes, the Wildcats used an 11-0 run to close out the last 2:04 to earn their eighth-straight win, 86-72.
Southland Significance
ACU moved to 11-1 in conference play and sits atop the Southland standings with a half game lead over SFA who is at 10-1. SHSU moves to 11-2 and are tied with Nicholls.
Key Plays
- Reggie Miller opened the scoring for the Wildcats with a corner three on a feed from Coryon Mason.
- After the Bearkats took a 24-15 lead, Morris hit a three to cut into their lead and on the following inbounds play, Reggie Miller got a steal and a layup. Miller drew a foul and converted the three-point play.
- Two possessions later, Morris hit another three that gave the Wildcats a two-point lead, capping an 11-0 run.
- Down three, ACU got back-to-back dunks from Pleasant and Mason to take a one-point lead with just over three minutes left in the first half.
- Reggie Miller drew the charge against Monroe with just over 3.5 second left in the first half. The Wildcats ran the perfect play to end the half with Damien Daniels bringing the ball quickly up the floor who fed a lob to Pleasant for a monster dunk to close the half.
- After scoring just one point in the first half, Kolton Kohl opened the second half with the first four points for the Wildcats.
- Mason and Morris each connected on threes midway through the second half to help keep the Bearkats at bay.
- Zach Nutall hit back-to-back jumpers to cut the ACU lead to just three points with just over three minutes left in the game.
- On the next Bearkats possession, Airion Simmons locked down Nutall getting a steal and feeding Reggie Miller for the layup at the other end.
- On the Wildcats next possession, Simmons lined up a three and banked it in, essentially sealing the win for ACU.
- Pleasant would hit his second three of the night and then earn an and-1 play to score the final six points of the game and help the Wildcats to an 11-0 run to close out the game.
Turning Point
Sam Houston opened up a nine-point lead, 24-15, over the Wildcats through the first nine minutes of action.
Mahki Morris hit a three to get the Wildcats to 18 points followed by a steal on ensuing inbounds play by
Reggie Miller who hit a layup and drew the foul. Miller completed the three-point play and shifted the momentum in the Wildcats favor.
Stat Pack
- Joe Pleasant went for a career-high 24 points on 9-12 shooting, including going 2-3 from deep.
- The Wildcats started the game 4-12 from the field, but ended up shooting 51 percent for the game including going 10-19 from three.
- Mahki Morris and Airion Simmons helped to carry the Wildcats off the bench scoring 13 and 12, respectively.
- ACU's 19-3 record is their best record through 22 games since making the jump to DI and their 11-1 record in Southland play is their best as well.
- With their eighth-straight win, it's the Wildcats' longest winning streak in the DI era.
- While ACU earned the win, SHSU's Nutall put up 33 points. In Huntsville, Lampley put up 30 against the Wildcats.
- The team had another solid outing at the free throw line going 18-22.
Up Next
ACU has a tough road schedule ahead as they make the long trip to Conway, Ark. to face the Bears of Central Arkansas on Saturday for the Southland Game of the Week on ESPN+.
