By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor

Playoffs are out of the picture for the ACU men’s basketball team after its seventh-straight loss in conference play.

ACU is now 1-9 in Lone Star Conference South Division play and 10-14 overall after losing 80-68 to West Texas A&M on Saturday.

“We had our chances and just didn’t execute well the last two and a half minutes,” said head coach Jason Copeland.

ACU will move on to play Angelo State on Monday in the first of the Wildcats’ two remaining games of its 2006-07 season.

Angelo is the only team ACU has been able to beat in conference play – ACU beat Angelo 92-76 – but Copeland isn’t overconfident going into the game.

“They’re a team that plays really well at home and has struggled some on the road,” Copeland said. “I feel like if we go over there and play well, we will win.”

ACU did play well in the second half against West Texas after encroaching on a 15-point West Texas lead by going on a 17-8 run that cut the Buff lead to 72-66. That was the best shot ACU had though, as West Texas rallied for a late surge.

Guard Cortnie Ross led in scoring for the Wildcats with 18, while three other Wildcats scored in double digits: forward Cameron Holson with and guards Philip Brooks and Elmo Williams, both with 10.

ACU’s 18th-straight loss to West Texas pushed the Buffs to 8-2 in the LSC South to remain atop of the divisional standings.

ACU is last in the LSC, but Copeland does see the positives of the season so far.

“Obviously 10 wins is better than the last two seasons,” Copeland said.

ACU was 8-19 in 2005-06 and 2004-05 seasons.

But Copeland would like to win the last two games of the season.

“I think it would be huge to win a couple more,” he said. “If we can finish with two more, it will definitely help the confidence of the returnees next year.”