ABILENE - Junior forward
Leonardo Bettiol's sensational scoring output was not enough to overcome the ACU men's basketball team's struggles from behind the arc and at the free throw line in a 62-57 loss against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday afternoon.
Bettiol poured in 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. He surpassed his previous career-high of 23 points which was set on March 2, 2024 at Utah Tech.
Neither the Wildcats nor the Lumberjacks could string much momentum together with the largest scoring run occurring early in the second half when ACU scored six unanswered.
Trailing by seven with 2:00 remaining, the Wildcats' comeback attempt was hampered when their two best scoring options -- Bettiol, and
Quion Williams -- both fouled out of the game.
ACU made 19-of-34 free throws (56%), and went 0-for-11 on 3-pointers. SFA also struggled in those two areas -- going 19-of-31 from the line (62%) and 3-for-19 from distance.
Chrishawn Christmas led the 'Jacks with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Tuesday's match was the latest close game in the rivalry series. Seven of the last ten games, and each of the past five, between ACU and SFA have been decided by five points or less.
This was the nonconference finale for the Wildcats, who are now 8-7 this season.
KEY POINTS
- Leonardo Bettiol connected on seven field goals in the first half to give him 21 points at the break. It was his third 20-point game this season and the 32nd time he has scored in double figures in his career.
- Quion Williams posted his sixth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He has now scored at least 10 points in eight straight games.
- The Wildcats forced SFA into 22 turnovers, but only converted those mistakes into 14 points. This was the first time in the 2024-25 season that ACU has lost when forcing 20+ turnovers. ACU had won the three previous times their opponent hit the 20 turnover mark.
- ACU edged out SFA in points in the paint 32-28. However, the Lumberjacks finished with 13 more rebounds and scored 20 second chance points compared to the Wildcats' seven.
UP NEXT
ACU lifts the lid on its conference schedule with the first of three consecutive road games on Saturday. The Wildcats play Utah Valley (8-6) in Orem, UT at 3 p.m. CT.
The game will be covered by ESPN+ (with a paid subscription), and 101.7 FM The Patriot with Grant Boone.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
