BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It was a tale of two halves on Saturday night as Abilene Christian pulled off one of their biggest comebacks in recent history, erasing an 18-point deficit to earn the win on the road. The Wildcats struggled to get going early, shooting just 20.8 percent from the field in the first half, but bounced back in a big way putting up 50 points in the second half. ACU forced eight turnovers in the second half, while just committing one themselves, and came away with the 65-59 win over Cal State Bakersfield.
Key Plays
- The Wildcats were called for two offensive fouls in their first three possessions while the Roadrunners opened up a 6-0 lead.
- Bakersfield grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a three to push their lead to 12 points with 5:46 to play in the first half.
- A layup with under 10 seconds to play in the first half, gave CSUB a 16-point lead going into the halftime break.
- The Roadrunners hit two free throws to start the second half that gave them their largest lead of the night at 18 points.
- A three from Tobias Cameron followed by a layup from Hunter Jack Madden gave the Wildcats their first back-to-back scoring possessions of the game with 18:02 to play in the game.
- Back-to-back threes from Immanuel Allen and Airion Simmons with 13:34 left cut the Bakersfield lead to single digits for the first time since early in the first half.
- Tobias Cameron hit consecutive threes to tie the game at 50-all with 5:22 to play.
- The Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 55-54, with 4:01 to play on another Cameron three.
- Joe Pleasant hit his first three of the season with two minutes to play and gave ACU the 60-54 lead.
- Madden went 4-4 at the free throw line down the stretch to help seal the win for the Wildcats.
Stat Pack
- Tobias Cameron was just shy of a career scoring night with 17 points and going 5-6 from three. His five made threes matched a career high.
- Immanuel Allen scored in double figures in his sixth-straight game with 11 points and three made threes.
- After a season low scoring half in the first, the Wildcats put together their second-highest scoring half against a DI opponent. It was their second 50-point half of the year against a DI foe.
- ACU shot 62.5 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from three in the second half.
- Pleasant had another solid game with 12 points on 3-4 shooting.
- Madden did a little bit of everything for the Wildcats with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Up Next
The Wildcats are back in action on Tuesday when they host Howard Payne at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. ACU will close out their non-conference schedule against the Yellow Jackets before taking a break for the holidays. The team will begin WAC play on Dec. 29 when they head on the road to SFA.
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