By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
With less than four seconds left in overtime, guard Tiago Souza caught the inbound pass, dribbled past one Tarleton State defender, squeezed through two more and lofted what would’ve been the game-winning shot from the top of the key.
But like most things lately for the Wildcats, the shot fell short.
“That hurt a little bit,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “It was just a game of both teams fighting hard, and we’re proud of our kids’ effort.”
Despite leading by as many as 16 points, the Wildcats lost to the Texans 81-80 in overtime Saturday dropping the Wildcats’ conference record to 1-7 and overall record to 10-12.
The loss doesn’t completely dash ACU’s chance at a postseason appearance, but it doesn’t make it any easier. ACU has to win its remaining four games to bridge the gap between it and the three 3-5 Lone Star Conference teams tied for fourth in the LSC South Division.
“We just want to win so bad,” said guard Cortnie Ross.
ACU was winning 37-27 at halftime against Tarleton and kept winning after jumping to the game high 51-35 lead with 16 minutes in the second half. But Tarleton stormed its way back into the game with a six-minute 22-3 run that gave it a 58-54 lead.
The two teams continued to go back and forth and went to overtime after Tarleton forward John Davis sank a three-pointer from the right-corner to end the second half at 72-72.
“Yeah, we took it to them, but we didn’t bring enough,” said guard Elmo Williams.
Williams said the loss was especially hard on the three Wildcat seniors -Souza, forward Igor Vrzina and guard Norman Alexander-as the game was their last true home game.
Although there is one more home game on the schedule for Saturday, it will be played at McMurry because of Sing Song.
ACU’s game Wednesday will be against another opponent that slid past the Wildcats the last time they played: Eastern New Mexico.
Eastern New Mexico beat ACU 86-82 in its conference opener on Jan. 18.
The Javelinas are 3-5 in conference after losing its last five conference match-ups.
If the Wildcats keep playing with the same intensity they had against Tarleton, Copeland said he knows things will fall their way eventually.
“If the guys keep playing like the way they did tonight, we will win games,” Copeland said.
A win over the Javelinas may be the push ACU needs to claim the program’s first postseason appearance since 1999.
“All we can do is take it one game at a time,” Ross said. “If we win the last four games, we still have a shot at the playoffs.”
