By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team kept its undefeated record intact with a 102-90 overtime win over host St. Edward’s Nov. 25. With the non-conference win, ACU is 4-0 heading into this week’s Lone Star Conference crossover schedule.
St. Edward’s (0-3) kept it closer than it should have been against a superior ACU team, which led 81-78 in the waning seconds when St. Ed’s hit a desperation three-pointer to send the game into overtime. But the Wildcats dominated the extra stanza, outscoring St. Edward’s 21-9 to pull out the victory.
“Overall I was pleased with our effort,” ACU head coach Klint Pleasant said. “We didn’t hit our shots early, but we stepped up our play in the second half and carried that over into overtime with an unbelievable amount of energy.”
Senior forward Tucker Pierson, who recorded his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds, said the game shouldn’t have been as tight as it was for the first 40 minutes.
“We were just real flat and they took advantage of it,” Pierson said. “It shouldn’t have been that close; they weren’t nearly the team that we are.”
Senior guard Rodney Lee led all scorers with 21 points and added eight rebounds, while sophomore backup point guard Matt Suther-land scored 16 points off the bench.
“Matt’s been giving us a good look,” Pierson said. “He’s a real boost off the bench; he picks up where [senior starting point guard] Cliff [Green] leaves off. He’s always thinking pass-first, but obviously we needed his scoring Tuesday. I like playing with him.”
Pleasant said he was pleased with Pierson’s effort as well.
“Every night he’s had a double-double or at least close to it,” Pleasant said. “It’s nice to expect that effort from him under the glass every night.”
The Wildcats kick off their LSC crossover schedule Thursday at LSC North opponent Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Okla. The Savages (2-2) had a dismal finish in 2002-03, finishing 5-22 overall and 2-10 in the LSC North.
“I hope we don’t underestimate them,” Pleasant said. “I want us to know that we’re playing against the game of basketball and not the opponent.”
Southeastern’s leading scorer is a familiar name to the Wildcats. Junior forward Jeremy Brown, who is averaging 18.5 points per game, came off the bench for ACU two seasons ago. Brown’s teammate, junior guard Bud Valerius, also transferred to SEOS after playing minimally for ACU in the 2001-02 season.
“I remember playing against them last year,” said Pierson, who was their teammate that season. “I don’t think of it as a huge deal, but it’s a little extra incentive. It would be nice to beat them.”
