ABILENE — The Wildcats came up just short in an instant classic against SFA on Wednesday night. The two teams battled into double overtime before the Lumberjacks came away with the 91-87 win. ACU made the first basket of the night before SFA built a double-digit lead that they took into the half. The Lumberjacks held their double-digit lead over the first seven minutes of the second half before the Wildcats began to chip away at their lead. ACU took their first lead since 2-0 after back-to-back threes from
Immanuel Allen to go up 66-64. The Wildcats built their lead to as much as six before SFA came back to force the first overtime. The teams traded buckets in the first overtime with both teams missing shots on their final possession. The Wildcats went 4-4 at the free throw line in the second overtime, but SFA made two clutch buckets down the stretch to earn the victory.
Key Plays
- Immanuel Allen hit a layup and drew the foul to complete a three-point play to get the Wildcats within one, 10-9.
- Airion Simmons hit a three to answer an SFA three, cutting the lead to 10 with 8:54 to play in the first half.
- The Wildcats put together a 6-0 run to cut the SFA lead to six with 6:22 to play in the first half, but the Lumberjacks answered with a 7-0 run of their own to push the lead back to 13.
- Simmons hit a three to cut the SFA lead to seven four minutes into the second half.
- Hunter Jack Madden hit a three in transition off a feed from Allen to get the Wildcats within two points with just over 10 minutes to play.
- Allen hit back-to-back threes, the second in transition after a Tobias Cameron steal, to give ACU their first lead of the night, 66-64.
- Joe Pleasant hit a layup off a feed from Madden to match their largest lead of the night at six points.
- Madden tied the game at the free throw line late, but missed the second of two shots to take the lead.
- The teams traded buckets throughout the first overtime. With the game tied at 83-all Simmons had a great look at a three that rimmed out, just missing a chance at being the game-winner.
- The Wildcats went 4-4 at the free throw line in the second overtime, but SFA made clutch shots late to come away with the win.
Stat Pack
- Ali Dibba led the Wildcats with 21 points, a season-high, and added six rebounds and a steal.
- Joe Pleasant notched his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds, one rebound shy of a career-high.
- Airion Simmons scored 10 points and is now just one point away from 1,000 points for his career.
- Hunter Jack Madden had 10 points and a team-high five assists.
- The Wildcats had a 20-13 advantage on forced turnovers and totaled six steals on the night.
- ACU's 40 rebounds were their most in a DI game on the year.
Coach Tanner Interview
Up Next
The Wildcats close out their home schedule on Saturday when they host Utah Valley at 6 p.m. for Senior Day.
