STEPHENVILLE – Abilene Christian got five players in double figures but couldn't overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 79-71 loss at Tarleton State on Thursday.
Ali Abdou Dibba and
Airion Simmons had 14 points each,
Kavion McClain added 12 and
Hunter Jack Madden and
Aidan Igiehon scored 11 each for the Cats.
After going down 40-30 at the half, ACU was able to get within four points on three occasions with under a minute to go.
Igiehon scored five points and McClain added a three-pointer in a 7-0 ACU run to make it a 70-66 game with 1:44 remaining. TSU got back out to a 73-66 lead but
JV Seat hit a three-pointer with 54 seconds to go. Dibba made it a 75-71 contest at the free throw line with 24 seconds left but that was the end of the offense for the Cats.
Dibba had eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats on the boards. The team shot 82 percent from the free-throw line (14-17) on the night.
ACU returns to Moody Coliseum after three games away when they host Texas-Arlington at 3 p.m. on Saturday to begin a four-game home stand.
