Despite a dramatic second half comeback, ACU dropped its sixth in a row Saturday, to Eastern New Mexico 98-86.
The Wildcats used a 19-1 run in the second half to get within one point of the Greyhounds 69-68, but ENMU was too much beyond the arc for the Wildcats. The Greyhounds shot over 65 percent from the three-point line going 17-26.
“I think we dug ourselves in the hole in the first half, we didn’t find their shooters and they shot well,” Coach Jason Copeland said. “We didn’t quit in the game, we just need to put more minutes together.”
ACU played well in the first half, but the difference came from the long ball. ENMU shot 11-16 from beyond the arc in the first half and entered halftime with a 44-33 lead.
In the second half the Greyhounds would get up by 19, before the Wildcats began a press with about 12 minutes left in the game. ACU would forced 8 turnovers in an incredible 19-1 run that would make the score 69-68 ENMU. After getting within one, ENMU would answer, as they would eventually push the lead back up to 13 with two minutes to play.
“The deficit we got ourselves into makes for a hard comeback,” guard Preston Davis said. “We played with a lot of heart to bring it within one. We just didn’t have enough energy left to take the lead.”
Eastern New Mexico would continue to make three-point shots and free throws in the final two minutes of the game and would escape with a 98-86 victory. ACU forced 18 steals and 26 turnovers in the loss. The Greyhounds would shoot 82 percent from the free-throw line, while ACU shot just over 65 percent.
Davis would put up 11 points for the Wildcats along with seven assists. Desmond Woodberry would add 10 points and six steals.
ACU fell to 8-10 overall and 0-6 in South Division play, while the Greyhounds improved to 8-10 overall and 3-3 in South Division play. ACU will finish the first half of Division play Wednesday against Angelo State University.
The Wildcats and Rams will tip off in San Angelo on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.