By Austin Gwin, Sports Writer
ACU pulled out a 71-65 overtime victory against the winless Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds on Wednesday night and ended a six-game losing streak despite having only seven players available by the end of the game.
ACU improved to 9-16 overall and 3-8 in the LSC South, while the Greyhounds fell to 0-12 in the LSC and 4-22 overall in their final game of the season.
“It was good to get the win,” head coach Jason Copeland said. “We went over there with nine kids, and it was great for them. Ean (Wagner) really stepped up for us, and Dante (Adams) played really well. It was about time something good happened for those guys.”
ACU traveled to Greyhound Arena minus two key players, starting point guard Riley Lambert and forward Milos Kilmovic, out for injuries. Midway through the first half, leading scorer and rebounder Dejan Sencanski went down with severe back spasms. Sencanski left the game for good, leaving the Wildcats with only eight healthy players.
ACU fell behind early by 11 points, but was able to scratch back to within two by halftime. After a back-and-forth game that had 11 lead changes, ACU went up 61-58 with 1:10 left in the game after a lay-up by guard Ean Wagner. But the Greyhounds tied the game with 46 seconds left after a three-pointer by guard Jimmie Marshall. Misses by Wagner and center Kendrick Johnson at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime.
Early in overtime, guard Dante Adams fouled out, leaving the Wildcats with only seven players. With only 90 seconds left on the clock and down by one point, Wagner buried a three-pointer to give the Wildcats the lead for good. The Greyhounds missed a jumper to tie it, and ACU forward Ben Wharton grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
Wharton made both free throws and sealed the win for the Wildcats.
Wagner stepped up for the Wildcats, setting a career-high in points and leading the team with 26 on 8-22 shooting. Adams finished with 14 points; forward Cam Holson had 13 points and Wharton finished with six points
ACU plays its final game of the season at home Saturday at 8 p.m. against West Texas A&M. The Buffaloes are 6-5 in LSC play and beat the Wildcats 77-63 in the first matchup between the two teams in Canyon on Jan. 17.
“We just want to go out there strong and see if we can get the upset,” Copeland said.
