By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Coming off an emotional overtime loss to Lone Star Conference South opponent Midwestern State Thursday, the ACU men's basketball team travels to Portales, N.M., Thursday to face an Eastern New Mexico team ranked No. 5 in the South Central Region poll. The Greyhounds (11-6, 1-1 LSC South), who clinched the South ... [Read More…]
School cuts athletic budget for ’04-05: Department to lose $351,000 of ACU’s$5.5 million budget cut
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Several school departments will suffer budget cuts next fall due to the $5.5 million savings plan announced by ACU president Dr. Royce Money Tuesday, but none as drastic as the athletic department. The $351,000 cut proposed by the Athletics Strategic Solutions Team (SST) outweighs any other department or program ... [Read More…]
Wildcats split first two LSC South matchups: Midwestern State prevails in OT thriller
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The men's basketball team opened Lone Star Conference South division play at home this week with an 85-71 win over Angelo State Tuesday and a nail-biting 82-78 overtime loss to Midwestern State Thursday. The Wildcats (9-6, 1-1 LSC South) trailed by 10 with more than five minutes left in regulation, but clutch ... [Read More…]
Cats bring defending champs to Moody: Northeastern State wraps up ACU’s non-division tilt Saturday
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The only thing worse than losing five games is losing them by an average of 6.8 points, and the men's basketball team knows this well. Since jumping out to a 4-0 start through the end of November, the Wildcats had gone 4-5 through Wednesday, two of the losses coming with a margin of two and four points. "It's ... [Read More…]
ACU begins winter schedule at ECO: Tigers’ Wilkerson presents challenge for unbeaten Cats
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Head coach Klint Pleasant cut the men's basketball team's practice time down from two hours to one Monday, a good indication for a team so soon into its regular season. "They were going so hard in practice that we had to cut it short," Pleasant said. "We're playing extremely well right now." Judging by the ... [Read More…]
Unblemished ACU heads to SE Okla. St.: Team still undefeated after road victory over St. Edward’s
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The men's basketball team kept its undefeated record intact with a 102-90 overtime win over host St. Edward's Nov. 25. With the non-conference win, ACU is 4-0 heading into this week's Lone Star Conference crossover schedule. St. Edward's (0-3) kept it closer than it should have been against a superior ACU team, ... [Read More…]
Cats to play two at Tipoff Classic: ACU looks for more intensity, effort in four-team invitational
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The 1-0 men's basketball team hopes to extend its home winning streak to three games this weekend when it plays host to the Quality Inn-ACU Tipoff Classic in Moody Coliseum. ACU welcomes cross-town university McMurry, Paul Quinn College and Southwestern Assemblies of God to the invitational, which kicks off 4 p.m. ... [Read More…]
Beyond the X’s and O’s: Coaches affect team with ministry-first perspective
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor When Klint Pleasant was hired as the head men's basketball coach in the summer of 2002, he told the media, "I don't want to be a basketball coach who happens to be a Christian; I want to be a Christian who happens to be a basketball coach." A little more than a year later, the second-year front man for the Wildcats ... [Read More…]
Wildcats win; coach displeased: Pleasant: ACU needed more intensity in season-opening win
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The men's basketball team may have whipped visiting opponent Texas-Permian Basin, 96-75, Saturday in its regular season opener, but head coach Klint Pleasant wasn't impressed. "I was very displeased with our effort," the second-year coach said. "We didn't play with much energy. I don't know if it was a mental lapse ... [Read More…]
ACU opens regular season: Cats coming off tight exhibition loss to D-I Univ. of Toledo
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor After a seemingly long and intense preseason, the men's basketball team kicks off its regular season at home against the University of Texas-Permian Basin 4 p.m. Saturday. After a 3-29 finish in the first year of their program, the Falcons-competing in the NAIA Red River Athletic Conference-are 0-3 so far this ... [Read More…]