ACU Makes 'Championship Plays' to Hold Off Texas Southern

ABILENE - Players and coaches on the ACU men's basketball team will be a bit jollier this Christmas as the Wildcats returned to the win column with a 69-65 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

Trailing by one in the final minute, Leonardo Bettiol sank a hook shot in the paint to push the Wildcats in front 66-65.

Former ACU guard Kavion McClain, who finished with 19 points to lead Texas Southern, missed a fadeaway on the other end and Dontrez Williams grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 0:05 remaining. Williams went one-for-two at the line, but Quion Williams fought for the offensive rebound and subsequently hit both attempts to put the game out of reach.

Head coach Brette Tanner described Quion Williams' board and his tip-in at the buzzer to end the first half as "championship plays" which ACU did not make in the 68-67 loss at East Texas A&M on Wednesday.

"This was the exact same scenario we were in on Wednesday," said Tanner. "I kept telling our guys, 'Did we get better? DId we learn from that game?' And we did. We fought through. I'm really proud of the guys for finding a way to step up and win. That's a really good team."

KEY POINTS

• ACU forced a season-high 24 turnovers on Saturday pushing their season total to three games of forcing 20+ turnovers.
• Quion Williams recorded his first double-double as a Wildcat with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He had four double-doubles in his first two college seasons at Oklahoma State.
• Nasir DeGruy shattered his career-best steals total for a game with six against the Tigers. His previous high mark was three.
• Leonardo Bettiol made 9-of-16 shots for 22 points, tying his season-high set in the lid-lifter versus Howard Payne and ending one shy of his career-high.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats improved to 8-5 this season with a week off until their next game against Texas A&M, which is currently ranked No. 12 in the country. ACU visits College Station on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 3 p.m.

The nonconference finale is in Abilene on Tuesday, Dec. 31, against old rival Stephen F. Austin. 


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