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
You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats best Bears in second half, tie school record of regular season wins
Jaren Lewis, senior forward, tries to make a shot without losing the ball. (Photo by Riley Fisher)

Wildcats best Bears in second half, tie school record of regular season wins

March 3, 2019 by Max Preston

The Wildcats faced off against Central Arkansas in Conway for their final road game of the season and topped the Bears 67-55 to earn their 23rd win, tying the regular season record set by the 1979-80 team.

ACU’s victory also earned the team a first-round bye in the Southland tournament which means it will finish no lower than fourth in the conference standings.

Today’s win puts the Wildcats at 12-4 in conference and 23-6 overall. The Bears slip to 6-10 in Southland play and 11-18 overall moving them just outside a spot in the postseason tournament at ninth place.

After six minutes of play, the Wildcats looked sluggish as they fell behind 17-6. From this point on, however, ACU never fell behind by double-digits again as the team fought its way to a 39-37 lead at halftime.

In the second half, it was all Wildcats as they jumped ahead by 14 (59-45) nearly midway through. ACU didn’t show any signs of letting up as the men kept the margin at 12 points or higher the rest of the way.

Junior guard Payten Ricks said he the result of Saturday’s game was special to share with his team.

“It was a special win just to see the fight that we have in us and the way we stick together to fight back and win a game when we are down,” Ricks said. “It says a lot about our unity which is why we are able to win games like that.”

Senior forward Jaren Lewis was the leading scorer for the men with 16 points and added nine rebounds with two assists.

Coming off a six-steal performance against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday, Lewis played tight defense once again as he came away with three steals against the Bears. He’s now had at least two steals in the last five games.

Senior guard Jaylen Franklin also turned in a productive stat line with 12 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Ricks also finished in double-digits with 11 points.

Overall, the men shot 45 percent from the field and made ten three-pointers out of 24 attempted (42 percent).

The Wildcats are now left with two remaining regular season games, both being at home against Stephen F. Austin and Incarnate Word. They will attempt to break the regular season wins record as well as clinch a two-round bye to put them in the semifinals of the Southland tournament automatically.

Ricks said the team will have to take the last two games one step at a time.

“We have to make sure we play harder than SFA and UIW and do all the little things to win these next two games,” Ricks said. “If we stick to the game plan and trust each other then we will give ourselves a chance to win both games.”

ACU will be playing SFA Tuesday night, a team they fell to in heartbreaking fashion earlier in the season after giving up a seven-point lead in the closing seconds.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+.

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Patterson’s brand of ACU football: Character. Discipline. Toughness.

  • Seven new roster additions highlight eventful postseason for Tanner and Wildcats

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

About Max Preston

Max Preston is a senior convergence journalism major from Amarillo.

I wouldn’t be the sports director if I didn’t love sports. I’m involved in Galaxy social club and like being social. I’m here for a good time not a long time.

You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats best Bears in second half, tie school record of regular season wins

Other Sports:

  • Patterson’s brand of ACU football: Character. Discipline. Toughness.

  • Seven new roster additions highlight eventful postseason for Tanner and Wildcats

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257 Retweet on Twitter 1521918832738144257 1 Like on Twitter 1521918832738144257 8 Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Like on Twitter 1521607087553458178 18 Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

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

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

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

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved