DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A hot-shooting first half wasn't enough for the Wildcats as their season came to an end on Tuesday night in an 85-69 loss to Middle Tennessee. The team shot 57 percent from the floor and a scorching 63 percent from deep to hold the seven-point advantage at the half. After an early made three to start the second half, the team had a 13-minute drought without a field goal that allowed the Blue Raiders to flip the script.
Key Plays
- Another early three from Airion Simmons had the Wildcats up 5-0 through the first two minutes of action.
- Cameron Steele and Mahki Morris hit back-to-back three to help push the Wildcats to a seven-point lead.
- Coryon Mason converted a jumper in the paint and drew a foul to give the Wildcats their largest lead at 11 points.
- The Blue Raiders cut the Wildcats lead to two points and Steele answered with a three to push their lead back to five.
- Back-to-back threes from Steele gave the Wildcats an eight-point lead with three and a half minutes to play in the first half.
- A tip-in from Steele pushed the Wildcats lead back to 11 with a minute to go in the first half, but MTSU scored four points in the last minute to cut the halftime deficit to seven.
- Steele made a three a minute and a half into the second half before the Wildcats went on a 13-minute scoring drought allowing the Blue Raiders to take the lead and build it up to as many as 12 before ACU hit another shot.
Stat Pack
- Cameron Steele led the Wildcats with 20 points going 7-9 from the field. He hit a career-high five threes. Steele went 11-14 from deep in the three games in the CBI.
- Coryon Mason scored 15 points in his final game as a Wildcat, including going 9-9 at the free throw line.
- Mahki Morris also scored in double figures in his final game, going for 14 points including shooting 2-4 from deep.
- The Wildcats lost the turnover battle for just the second time this season, 12-16.
- After the scorching start in the first half, the team shot just 19 percent from the field in the second half, making just four field goals.
Up Next
The Wildcats season comes to an end with a 25-11 record in their first season competing in the WAC. The team made an improbable run to the WAC conference championship game and followed it up with another great run to the CBI semifinals. ACU led the nation in three defensive categories on the season and were an electric team to watch compete.
Follow ACU on social media:
Twitter:
@ACU_MBB |
@ACUsports
Instagram:
@acu_mbb |
@acusports
Facebook:
/ACUWildcatMensBasketball /acusports
#GoWildcats
