The Wildcats set the team record and tied the Southland Conference record for most three-point field goal makes in a game in their win over Southwestern Adventist on Saturday night in Moody Coliseum. The 124-57 win was overshadowed by the record-setting feat issued by the team’s 21 three-point makes, which surpassed the previous record of 16 threes.
“It’s a great honor,” head coach Joe Golding said. “I thought we shot the ball really well and for the most part, I thought a lot of our threes were really inside out and we got them within the offense.”
Sophomore guard Parker Wentz hit one of his six three-point makes with less than 11 minutes left in the second half that tied the school record. A minute later, junior guard Julian Edmonson drained one of his own threes that broke the previous ACU record for most three-point makes in a game. With less than a minute left in the game, freshman guard Michael Grant scored what would have been ACU’s 22nd three of the game, setting the conference record. Unfortunately, his toe was on the line, resulting in two points, rather than three.
From start to finish, the outcome was never in question, as ACU led 68-21 at halftime, and would only extend the lead from then on. Junior guard Rafael Farley started the second half the same way he ended the first, with a three-point make. The team did an impressive job of sharing the wealth on offense as five players recorded a three-point field goal, six finished in double digits for points scored and nine of 10 Wildcats scored. The Wildcats registered 35 assists on 49 field goal makes.
“This team can really shoot the basketball and we’ve proven that time and time again,” Golding said.
The Wildcats came out shooting the ball with remarkable efficiency, going 7-10 from beyond the arc and shooting above 70 percent for the first half. By halftime, ACU was 13-19 from three-point attempts and needed only three more makes to tie the school record.
“It’s good to give the fans something to cheer about,” Golding said. “As a coach, all you want to do is win games, but it’s good to give the fans some dunks and highlight plays. To be able to set that record at home in Moody was also a plus.”
Edmonson led all scorers with 33 points on 12-18 shooting, including 8-12 three-point shots. Wentz added 24 points along with 10 assists, the first time an ACU player had registered double-digits in assists since 2007. Farley contributed 15 points off of 5-8 shooting, all coming from beyond the arc.
“Once the game was really decided, we just tried to get our guys to keep focusing on playing the right way,” Golding said. “Offense and defense, we didn’t want them to start playing sloppy and we wanted them to keep playing our style of ball.”
After all the dust had settled, the 124 points scored Saturday was six points shy of the school record for most points scored in a game. The Wildcats finished with 70 percent, 68 percent three-point shooting (21-34) and only 5-8 from the free-throw line.
The Wildcats, now 11-17 with a 2-9 conference record, along with winners of three straight and four of their last six, will prepare for its final road trip of the year as they take on conference rivals Nicholls State (11-12, 8-6) in Thibodaux, La. on Thursday and then McNeese State (8-18, 6-8) in Lake Charles, La. on Saturday.
