No. 4 seed ACU (16-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 seed Seattle U (13-17, 8-8)
Las Vegas, NV | Orleans Arena
WAC Basketball Tournament - Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 13 at 8 p.m. (CT) / 6 p.m. (PT)
GAME LINKS
LAS VEGAS - It all comes down to three games in March. That sentiment has been shared and expressed by ACU men's basketball head coach
Brette Tanner since the beginning of the season, and now that time is here.
The Wildcats begin their run in the 2025 WAC Basketball Tournament with a showdown against No. 5 seed Seattle U in the quarterfinal round on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT (6 p.m. local time).
Tanner's squad -- which is the No. 4 seed in the tournament -- picked a great time to start a hot streak. Since beginning conference play with a 1-6 record, ACU has gone 7-2 to turn its season around.
"Belief," has been the driving force Tanner said. "I wish I could say I did this and that to create this, but it's the players sticking together. A lot of teams would shut down in that moment. Our guys continued to fight."
It all goes back to the team's Bible verse for this season: Mark 9:23. In the section of Mark 9, a man brought his son to Jesus' disciples to be healed from an impure spirit. The disciples were unable to drive out the spirit, and the man told Jesus, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and helps." (Mark 9:22, NIV).Â
Jesus replied, "'If you can'? Everything is possible for one who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"' (Mark 9:23-24).
ACU won five straight games, picked up a key victory at UT Arlington, and earned its most impressive win of the season -
an 82-81 overtime victory versus Grand Canyon - in the regular season finale.
Now, the Wildcats turn their focus to the week they've been working. ACU and Seattle U split their season series with each winning on their home court. SU scored a last-second bucket to defeat ACU 66-64 on Jan. 11. The Wildcats returned the favor with a 75-59 triumph over the Redhawks on Feb. 13.
"They're a tough matchup for us," said Tanner. "I think they're the best defensive team in the league. We had two really good games with them and I expect Thursday will be similar."
Seattle U is led by All-WAC First Team selection Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe who is fourth in the conference with 15.1 points per game.
"He's a tough matchup. One, he doesn't foul so you can't get him out of the game. Offensively, he can play inside out. He moves really well without the ball. I don't think he gets enough credit for that. He doesn't stand still, and you can get lost if you are caught ball watching. He's a scary, potential double-double [player]."
ACU has employed a more balanced approach with
Leonardo Bettiol and
Quion Williams both averaging 13 points a game. Division II transfer
Bradyn Hubbard follows with a 10-point average, and is also the team's leading rebounder with 5.7 boards a game.
Hunter Jack Madden kicks in 9.2 points per outing.
"With all the new faces we had this year, I am really proud of the way we finished," said Tanner. :If we don't show up and compete at a high level we could easily lose that first one. But, we could easily be playing in the championship game on Saturday. I believe that. It comes down to how do we show up, and what kind of mindset we have.
"As long as they believe in themselves I'll put them up against anybody, and I like our chances."
ACU's No. 4 seed is the best the program has earned for the WAC Tournament since joining the league for the 2021-2022 season.In their first year, the Wildcats made a run to the championship game as the No. 6 seed. Each of the past two years ACU has been eliminated in round one.
The ACU vs. Seattle U quarterfinal game
will be streamed on ESPN+, and
Grant Boone has the radio call from Las Vegas on
101.7 FM The Patriot. The winner between the Wildcats and Redhawks advances to play either No. 1 seed Utah Valley or No. 9 seed Utah Tech in the semifinals on Friday at 8 p.m. (CT).
The WAC Championship is Saturday at 10:40 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
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