Second-half surge powers Abilene Christian men past California Baptist

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Damien Daniels and Hunter Jack Madden each scored a game-high 17 points, and three other Abilene Christian players were in double figures as the Wildcats beat California Baptist 87-71 in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the CBU Events Center.

Airion Simmons added 16 points, while Tobias Cameron had 15, and Ali Dibba had 10 as ACU (13-11 overall, 5-6 WAC) won its third consecutive game, including its second on the two-game West Coast road swing.

The Wildcats stunned Seattle 83-68 on Wednesday.

Madden’s 17 points is a season high. He hit 3 of 5 shots off the bench, including 2 of 3 treys. He nailed all nine free-throw attempts. Daniels ( 5-11 from the field) and Simmons (5-10, including 4-6 on 3-pointers) also highlighted an ACU team that shot 51.9% from the field (27-52).

Toran Armstrong led Cal Baptist (13-11, 5-6) with 14 points. Reed Nottage had 13, and Riley Battin had 10 as the Lancers lost their third consecutive game.

ACU hit just two more baskets than the Lancers but had a decided advantage on 3-point goals – hitting 11-of-20, while Cal Baptist hit 6-of-25. The Wildcats also continue to hit their free throws, a staple during the recent streak. They converted 22-of-25 free throws. CBU hit 15-of-23 free throws.

Cal Baptist scored the game’s first five points and never trailed in the first half, leading by as much as 11 (21-10) with 7:52 left before halftime.

But ACU whittled the lead and trailed by just one (39-38) at the brea, thanks to Je’Sean Jackson’s 3-point goal with less than a minute to go.

However, the Wildcats scored the first five points of the second half and never surrendered the lead.

Dibba’s jumper in the paint broke a tie at 39.

ACU led by one (50-49), but Cameron hit a 3-point goal to spark a 13-2 run as the Wildcats broke open the game. They Lancers never got closer than 11.

Next up

ACU has a bye before playing Sam Houston (17-6, 7-4) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Moody Coliseum. It’s one of four remaining home games.

Texas-Arlington beat the Bearkats 70-58 on Saturday in Arlington, ending Sam Houston’s five-game winning streak.

This is Sam Houston’s last season in the WAC. The school will join defending WAC champion New Mexico State in Conference USA next season.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Abilene Christian 87, California Baptist 71

ACU ... 38 ... 49 − 89

CBU ... 39 ... 32 − 71

ABILENE CHRISTIAN (13-11, 5-6) − Pleasant 2-5 1-2 7, Simmons 5-10 2-2 16, Cameron 5-5 4-5 15, Daniels 5-11 6-7 17, Dibba 5-9 0-0 10, Madden 3-5 9-9 17, Jackson 1-1 0-0 3, Steele 0-4 0-0 0, Bettiol 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-52 22-25 87.

CAL BAPTIST (13-11, 5-6) − Goodrick 0-4 5-8 5, Tr.Armstrong 1-2 0-0 2, Ta.Armstrong 6-10 2-5 14, Nottage 5-9 0-0 13, Battin 4-7 2-2 10, Tchoukuiengo 3-8 1-2 8, Quintana 2-7 4-4 9, Ighoefe 3-3 0-0 6, Washington 1-3 1-2 4. Totals 25-53 15-23 71.

3-Point Goals − Abilene Christian 11-20 (Simmons 4-6, Pleasant 2-2, Madden 2-3, Cameron 1-1, Jackson 1-1, Daniels 1-2, Dibba 0-2, Steele 0-3), Cal Baptist 6-25 (Nottage 3-7, Washington 1-2, Tchoukuiengo 1-3, Quintana 1-5, Tr. Armstrong 0-1, Goodrick 0-1, Battin 0-2, Ta. Armstrong 0-4). Rebounds − Abilene Christian 28 (Pleasant 9), Cal Baptist 25 (Goodrick 6). Assists − Abilene Christian 15 (Daniels 4), Cal Baptist 16 (Ta. Armstrong, Tchoukuiengo 3). Total Fouls − Abilene Christian 20, Cal Baptist 16. Fouled Out − None. Technical Fouls − None. A − 3,128 (6,000).

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Christian overcome California Baptist in men's WAC basketball