Santa Clarita, CA- Arizona Christian Men's Basketball hung around with #2 The Master's for 30 minutes before the Mustangs pulled away to hand the Firestorm a 78-66 loss.  Senior Matt Willkomm topped ACU with 15 points while Junior Callum Lawson recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Mustangs (25-1, 11-0 GSAC) scored the first four points before Willkomm hit back-to-back jumpers for a 4-4 tie.  After TMU went ahead 6-4, Lawson scored the next four points and ACU was up 8-6.  Senior Sam Finley (11 points for the game) answered a TMU three pointer with a three pointer of his own for an exchange of leads.  A Willkomm basket broke an 11-11 tie.  However, the Mustangs used a 6-0 run to take the lead for what turned out to be the rest of the game.

The ACU deficit grew to ten twice in the first half which they trimmed to eight at the break.

Down 45-37, Freshman Isaiah Walton had a perfect shooting half (4-4 from the floor including 2-2 from three point range) to top ACU with ten first half points.

Immediately after the break, the Mustangs pushed the lead back to ten.  But the Firestorm would not go away as they clawed back within four (59-55) with 10:50 to play in the game.

But TMU pulled away with a 10-2 effort.  Both teams only scored nine points apiece in the final seven plus minutes.

With their backs now completely against the wall, ACU must win two of their last three games without Menlo winning another game for the Firestorm to claim a spot in the upcoming GSAC playoffs which will be hosted at Arizona Christian. 

On Saturday, the Firestorm will host #9 Hope international at 3:00 pm.  The five ACU seniors will be recognized that afternoon.