By Blake Penfield, Sports Writer
The men’s basketball team’s impressive 5-1 season record will be challenged on Saturday when the Wildcats try to lasso the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in Oklahoma.
ACU is currently enjoying the highest field goal percentage in the entire Lone Star Conference and the fourth-highest three-point field goal percentage in the conference. These statistics are already showing a staggering improvement over last year’s team.
While ACU is undefeated at home, the team has yet to win an away game. Central Oklahoma will not be easily persuaded into giving up a victory in its own house. With a solid 5-3 season record, the Bronchos are currently undefeated at home.
The Bronchos also bring two offensive powerhouses to the game. Guard and forward Sam Belt, who previously played for the University of Tulsa, averages 17 points-per-game and is only outscored by forward Anthony Brown, who averages 22 points-per-game.
Last season, Sam Belt was named second-team all-LSC North and named first-team all-LSC North the season before. He was also named LSC Player of the Week on three separate occasions last year and won LSC North Freshman of the Year in 2004. Last week he won the LSC Player of the Week yet again.
Anthony Brown was named first-team all-LSC North and twice named LSC North Player of the Week last season. He was also awarded the title of LSC North Newcomer of the Year last season.
“They’re a very explosive team,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “They have one of the best players in the league, and Anthony Brown is a great shooter.”
Central Oklahoma is experiencing a similar season to that of the Wildcats this season in terms of new blood. The Bronchos have only two returning players, paralleling ACU’s small three-man return.
Central Oklahoma averages 80.2 points-per-game and have kept other teams at an average of 75.9 points-per-game.
Where the Bronchos have the most notable edge over the Wildcats is in free throws. Central Oklahoma shoots 70.2 percent from the line, the fourth-best in the league, over ACU’s 64.7 percent, making them tenth in the league. Free throws are the one main thing to which Copeland attributed the Cats’ single loss.
