ABILENE — For the second game in-a-row the ACU men's basketball team lived up to its disruptive defensive reputation, but ended up losing to Southern Utah 79-76 on Saturday afternoon.
More than 1,300 fans packed into Moody Coliseum and were mostly delighted by the Wildcats leading for the game's first 32 minutes. ACU led by as a many as 13 points in that opening frame.Â
But, in the final eight minutes Southern Utah pulled ahead and the lead swung back-and-forth nine times. The score was tied on another five instances.
ACU's defense forced 22 Thunderbird turnovers, including 16 in the first half, tying a season-high. In Thursday's game versus Utah Tech, the Cats forced 21 turnovers. But, both games ended with a loss by the host Wildcats.
Rich Smith, who was held to six points in his last outing, looked like his old self with 18 points on a season-best eight made field goals.
STAT PACK
- Rich Smith had a teammate join him on the 5-plus assist list. Smith had five assists along with Yaniel Rivera, who tied his career-high mark.
- Cbo Newton dropped in 17 points while Bradyn Hubbard had 12. It was Hubbard's 95th double-figure scoring game of his college career.
- For the first time this season (record entering Saturday)Â ACU lost when: leading at halftime (8-0), and leading with 2:00 remaining in regulation (9-0).
- These two teams will meet for a third time in the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.at Moody Coliseum.Â
NEXT UP
ACU (10-11, 2-6) heads west for a pair of WAC games with the Wildcats already boasting a 1-0 series lead over Utah Valley after an 85-68 victory in Abilene on Jan. 3.Â
Tipoff from Orem, Utah, is 8 p.m. CT on Thursday. ACU will then travel to Riverside, Calif., to face California Baptist for the team's first of two trips there this season.
Utah Valley and CBU enter the new week in a three-way tie for first place in the WAC, along with UT Arlington, at 3 p.m.
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