DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Much like last night's game, the Wildcats used a hot start early to create separation and come away with a win down the stretch. Abilene Christian went 6-15 from three in the first half but shifted their offense inside in the second half to keep Ohio at bay. The teams combined for 49 free throw attempts in the second half and the Wildcats won the battle at the line to help them to the 91-86 victory.
Key Plays
- Airion Simmons stepped up to score the first points for the Wildcats draining a three from the top of the key.
- Cameron Steele followed just a few possessions later with a three of his own to put the Wildcats up 8-1.
- Back-to-back threes from Tobias Cameron and Coryon Mason put the Wildcats up 21-12 just past the halfway point of the first half.
- A jumper from Mason with just under 30 seconds to play in the first half gave the Wildcats their seven-point advantage at the break.
- Mahki Morris hit a midrange jumper to start the half, pushing the ACU lead to nine.
- Damien Daniels found a cutting Immanuel Allen for an easy lay-in and Allen was able to convert at the free throw line for the three-point play.
- Allen would use a nifty drive just a few minutes later to score and draw another foul to put the Wildcats up nine with just under 10 minutes to play.
- With the Wildcats lead down to three, Simmons found a cutting Reggie Miller who converted the layup and a free throw to push the Wildcats lead back to six with 6:33 on the clock.
- Simmons gave the Wildcats their larges lead of the game at the 4:20 mark with a jumper just inside the free throw line to go up 72-62.
- The Bobcats made two huge threes down the stretch to get within striking distance but with 26 seconds on the clock, Damien Daniels picked the pocket of an Ohio player, drew a foul, and went to the line to put the Wildcats up seven to seal the game.
Stat Pack
- Coryon Mason led the Wildcats with 20 points, going 7-13 from the field and 5-5 from the charity stripe.
- Airion Simmons chipped in 18 points going 7-13 from the field, 3-6 from three, and six rebounds and a career-high six assists.
- Immanuel Allen had a phenomenal night off the bench scoring 13 points and tallying a steal.
- Reggie Miller had two steals on the night and has tied Payten Ricks' single-season steals record with 70 on the year.
- Damien Daniels was clutch from the line down the stretch going 6-7 while adding three assists and four steals on the night.
- The Wildcats were called for 31 total personal fouls, but only had one player foul out and had five others who were whistled for four.
- Mahki Morris notched three steals on the night and has seven in the last two games.
Up Next
The Wildcats will match up with the No. 2 seed, Middle Tennessee, tomorrow evening at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the semifinals of the Collegiate Basketball Invitational.
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