Wildcats Look to Build on Win Streak

ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats return to Moody Coliseum this weekend for games against Southern Utah and Utah Tech, trying to stretch their winning streak to five straight and move up in the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball standings.

ACU will host Southern Utah at 7 p.m. Thursday at Moody Coliseum and then play a home game against Utah Tech at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats beat those teams earlier this month to start their three-game winning streak. They defeated Utah Tech 86-72, and two days later, they defeated Southern Utah 84-70. The Wildcats never trailed in either game, pushing their WAC record to 3-6.

A win last Thursday at home over Seattle pushed the Wildcats to 4-6 in the league, leaving them in seventh place, two games ahead of eight-place Southern Utah (3-9) and Utah Tech (2-8). With the games remaining on their schedule, the Wildcats are in position to make a run at a top-four spot in the WAC Postseason Tournament (March 12-15 in Las Vegas). 

After these two games, ACU will play at Tarleton State (next Thursday) and Texas-Arlington (next Saturday) before closing the regular season at home against the league's top two teams: first-place Utah Valley on Thursday, March 6, and second-place Grand Canyon on Saturday, March 8. 

The Wildcats got their season back on track, largely thanks to the resurgence of shooting guard Hunter Jack Madden. He has averaged 15.7 points per game during the three-game winning streak and came out of a prolonged shooting slump last week, hitting 15 of 26 from the field, including 10 of 19 from 3-point range, where he can be a difference-maker.

ACU – which has won four of its last six games – is led in scoring and rebounding by junior forward Quion Williams, averaging 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Junior forward Leo Bettiol averages 13.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest, and junior forward Bradyn Hubbard averages 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats lead the WAC and rank second in the nation in steals per game (10.4) and rank second in turnovers forced per game (16.2; 7th nationally) and field goal percentage (45.2 percent). ACU is third in 3-point percentage defense (32.8 percent) and fourth in scoring defense (70.8 ppg).

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
• Southern Utah was without Tavi Jackson in the Feb. 8 matchup in Cedar City, Utah, and his absence was noticeable. Jackson is coming off one of his best performances of the season in last Saturday's 70-68 home loss against Utah Valley. The 6-2 junior guard from Las Vegas scored 16 points in the contest.
• Jackson averages 10.1 points per game, one of three Thunderbird players averaging double figures.
• Dominique Ford is also coming off his best performance of the year. He scored 28 points on 12-22 from the field. He averages 16.7 ppg in his seven conference games, good for fourth in the WAC.
• Jamir Simpson averages a team-high 16.7 points per game and is second in rebounds per game (4.8).

SCOUTING UTAH TECH
• ACU leads the all-time series 6-0.
• The Trailblazers saw five players score in double figures last Saturday in an 86-83 loss at Cal Baptist. Madiba Owona led the way with 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field. Justin Bieker came off the bench to score 15 points, while Noa Gonsalves chipped in with 14 points and a team-high six rebounds.
• Utah Tech is second in the WAC in 3-point attempts per game (22.4) and third in 3-pointers made per game (7.3). 
• Gonsalves is second in the WAC in 3-pointers made (58) and 3-pointers made per game (2.32). He is third in minutes per game (34:25).