ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands –
Airion Simmons scored a season-best 25 points but Abilene Christian fell in the championship game of the Paradise Jam, 87-69, at the hands of Missouri State.
Simmons hit four three-pointers in as many attempts for his 25 points and also led the team with four assists.
The Wildcats led by as many as 10 points at two moments in the first quarter.
Kavion McClain hit a jumper in the paint for a 19-9 lead with 15:09 left in the first half. Simmons hit a three-pointer with 9:49 remaining in the half for a 30-20 ACU lead.
The offense cooled after that and MSU finished the half on a 25-7 run to establish a 45-37 halftime lead.
ACU narrowed the lead to a single point three times in the first seven minutes of the second half but the Bears withstood each advance and led by as many as 19 points.
Joining Simmons in double-figure scoring were
Hunter Jack Madden with 14 points and
Ali Abdou Dibba with 11. Madden led the Cats with eight rebounds and
Cameron Steele had four steals.
Now 3-3, the Wildcats take a holiday break before opening WAC play at Texas-Arlington on Nov. 29.
