Box Score Atherton, Calif.- Following a slow first half, No. 8 Arizona Christian completed a second half comeback before falling to Menlo on a buzzer beater on Thursday night.
- Game score: Menlo - 67, Arizona Christian - 66
- Records: Arizona Christian - 17-3, 5-3 GSAC, Menlo - 13-4, 5-3 GSAC
- NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian - 8, Menlo - RV
- Location: Haynes-Prim Pavilion, Menlo College, Atherton, CA
- Trailing 4-2, Micah Bradford hit a three for the first ACU lead
- A chain of six straight lead changes started with Bradford's trey
- Menlo took the lead at 11-9 and eventually built a 14 point lead
- ACU cut their halftime deficit to eight
- But the Firestorm managed just 24 points in the first 20 minutes- their season low output for a half
- ACU chipped away in the second half before tying the game at 50-50 with 10:16 remaining
- Williams forced another tie at 58-58 during an 8-0 run to move ACU in front 63-58
- The Firestorm scored only three points in the final 4:47
- Clinging to a two point lead in the final nine seconds, ACU saw Menlo connect on a game winning three in the final second
- ACU entered the game shooting 73% from the free throw line as a team but shot 45.5% against the Oaks
Thoughts from Coach Rutter
"Tonight is on me. I did not have us ready to go from the start. Credit to Menlo, they executed their game plan and had guys step up and make big shots when they needed them. They played a great game."
"It was not until we were down 14 that we started to play with a sense of urgency. I thought we played a good second half, played really hard, but just got off to such a bad start."
"Bryce (Davis) fouled out in just a few minutes so we had to adjust our lineup a little, proud of our guys for playing so hard and giving us a chance to win. Hopefully I can get us a little more ready to play out of the gate. We have some tough guys; I am sure we will respond positively to tonight's game."
Up Next
On Saturday, No. 8 Arizona Christian will meet up with No. 4 William Jessup in the GSAC Game of the Week. Tip-off from Rocklin will be 1:00 pm (AZ)/ 12:00 pm (Pacific).
