Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • Purchase a Grad Ad
You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats search for much needed win after loss at the buzzer
The team has a quick meeting during a time out. Players: Number 13-Paul Hiepler, number 5-Payten Ricks, and Tobias Harris. (Photo by Holly Dorn)

Wildcats search for much needed win after loss at the buzzer

February 28, 2018 by Jonathan Raitz

The Wildcats’ Southland Conference Tournament hopes took their biggest hit yet, as Central Arkansas clinched a 74-72 buzzer-beating win over ACU on Saturday.

The game was tightly contested as the Sugar Bears built a 41-35 lead at the half, propelled by 17 first half points from the conference’s leading scorer, Jordan Howard. Neither team found much breathing room as UCA built an eight-point lead at the 13-minute mark, but ACU responded to gain an eight-point advantage of its own with 7:34 left in the game.

However, the Wildcat offense stumbled late, and the Sugar Bears broke off a 15-5 run to tie the game at 72-72 with 51 seconds left. The Wildcats could not convert on their next possession, and that’s when heartbreak hit for ACU.

With just three seconds on the clock, Howard fired a three-pointer and was off the mark, but Thatch Unruh found the offensive rebound and converted the put-back, as UCA skated out of Abilene with the thrilling 74-72 victory.

Howard finished with a game-high 29 points, and sophomore Jalone Friday lead the Wildcats with 15. Junior Jaren Lewis also added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Although the loss was detrimental to ACU and pushed them to the eighth spot in the conference standings, its tournament hopes are slim but still alive.

The easiest route would be for the Wildcats to win their last two games on the road and hope for a McNeese State loss against either Texas A&M-Corpus Christi or Lamar. However, that will require ACU to defeat perennial powerhouse Stephen F. Austin on its home court Wednesday night.

The Wildcats have defeated the Lumberjacks just once since moving to Div. 1, and earlier this year they had as good a shot as any when the two met in Moody. ACU held a 44-33 halftime lead, but SFA outscored the Wildcats by 21 in the second half to secure a 76-66 victory.

Now the Lumberjacks sit third in the conference at 12-4 with plenty of late season, big-game experience and await the Wildcats with the league’s second scoring offense and top scoring margin. SFA is coming off a 71-66 loss to Lamar on Saturday, but throttled UCA 97-62 the game before that.

If ACU is to lose Wednesday night, all hope for a tournament spot is not lost, but it would require a win over Incarnate Word on Saturday and two losses from both McNeese and TAMU-CC.

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Softball struggles on the road against McNeese

  • Soccer season reaches conclusion in conference semifinals

  • Soccer advances to Southland Tournament semifinals

Jonathan Raitz

About Jonathan Raitz

JMC Network Sports Director. Try to cover all things sports related, on and off The Hill (ACU).

You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats search for much needed win after loss at the buzzer

Other Sports:

  • Softball struggles on the road against McNeese

  • Soccer season reaches conclusion in conference semifinals

  • Soccer advances to Southland Tournament semifinals

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
18h

"By being back at a church in-person, I saw the body of Christ like I had not seen it before: as a working machine." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/04/my-experience-back-in-a-fully-opened-church/

Reply on Twitter 1384967677584740353Retweet on Twitter 1384967677584740353Like on Twitter 13849676775847403532Twitter 1384967677584740353
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
21h

The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the Undergraduate Research Festival in a hybrid in-person and online format March 30. Read more below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/04/undergraduate-research-festival-takes-place-in-person-and-online-for-first-time/

Reply on Twitter 1384914565507559425Retweet on Twitter 1384914565507559425Like on Twitter 13849145655075594251Twitter 1384914565507559425

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

18 hours ago

The Optimist
"By being back at a church in-person, I saw the body of Christ like I had not seen it before: as a working machine." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below: ...

My experience back in a fully-opened church - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Regardless of what one may think of the state of Texas opening back up, I believe a blessing that many, including myself, are thankful for is the ability for churches to full capacity within the state. While some stores still count entrants, restaurants require masks and theatres require social dist...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

21 hours ago

The Optimist
The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the Undergraduate Research Festival in a hybrid in-person and online format March 30. Read more below: ...

Undergraduate Research Festival takes place in person and online for first time - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

For the first time in a hybrid online/in-person format, the Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the Undergraduate Research Festival March 30. While most of the student presentations happened online – either asynchronous or live – some students in the conference were able to present their res...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Residence Life welcomes four-legged friend to dorm

https://youtu.be/zEb-k1Q_XDA ... [Read More…]

  • Wildcats claim Southland Conference Tournament Championship
  • Wildcats claw past the Cardinals in the conference semifinal
  • Top of the Key: Episode 17 – Super Bowl Special

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved