Wildcats ready for semifinal matchup

KATY, Texas –  The Wildcats are back in Katy after their chance to compete for a title in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team returns as the two-seed for the third-straight season and will compete in their first game of the week on Friday night at 8 p.m. The team awaits the winner of Lamar/Sam Houston and will have a tough matchup no matter the winner. 

FOLLOW THE GAME

ACU STORYLINES

• ACU is coming off a 25-point win over UIW to close out their home slate with a perfect 13-0 record, the first time the team had accomplished that feat since making the jump to DI. 
• The Southland Conference announced their all-conference teams on Monday with five Wildcats earning awards. Kolton Kohl was named to the first team, Joe Pleasant was named to the second team, and Coryon Mason was named to the third team. Mason, along with Damien Daniels and Reggie Miller, was also named to the All-Defense team. 
• The All-Defensive team has just five spots and the Wildcats claimed three with their league leading defense. The team led the nation in turnovers forced (20.71) and turnover margin (+6.8) and ranked in the top-10 for scoring defense (60.7). 
• After missing key players towards the end of the season with injuries, the Wildcats are back to full health heading into Katy with both Clay Gayman and Coryon Mason returning to the lineup. 
• Kohl has been a dominant force inside for ACU, he scored in double figures in 13 of their 15 conference games and looks to continue his success in the tournament. 

SCOUTING LAMAR (9-17, 6-10 SLC)

• Lamar has been on a hot streak over the last two weeks winning their last five games, including a first round tournament win over Houston Baptist, 62-52.
• Their five-game winning streak comes right on the heels of a six-game losing streak. During their win streak they earned a double-overtime win at home over SFA.
• Davion Buster continues to lead the way for the Cardinals, scoring 15.2 points per game. Both Kasen Harrison (12.8) and Avery Sullivan (10.2) are scoring in double figures as well.
• The Cardinals are giving up just 55.6 points per game over their five-game winning streak. 
• David Muoka earned the Southland Defensive Player of the Year after averaging almost three blocks per game on the season, he has 66 total blocks on the year. 

SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON (19-8, 13-3 SLC)

• The Bearkats dropped their final game of the season at home against SFA. The loss dropped them to the three seed for the tournament.
• Zach Nutall was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year after scoring 18.9 points per game and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.
• Demarkus Lampley joined Nutall on the first team, he averaged 15.0 points per game including shooting almost 40 percent from three on the year.
• The Bearkats' third-leading scorer, Bryce Monroe, took home the Freshman of the Year award from the conference.
• Sam Houston had the second-best defense in the league for the year, but they gave up almost 10 more points per game than ACU who led the way.