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Arizona Christian University

OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
MBB Excited
Khaxil Stewart
74
Saint Katherine (CA) USK 23-9
76
Winner Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 24-7
Saint Katherine (CA) USK
23-9
74
Final
76
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU
24-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Katherine (CA) USK 37 37 74
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 32 44 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Tim Gooszen

Firestorm Survive Firebirds In NAIA First Round

Glendale, Ariz..- Playing in front of a loud and rowdy home crowd on Friday, Arizona Christian survived facing Saint Katherine in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship First Round, presented by Ballogy.  The Firestorm advanced to face Huntington (In) in the second round on Saturday evening.


Game Info
  • Game score: Arizona Christian- 76, Saint Katherine- 74
  • Records: Arizona Christian- 24-7, Saint Katherine- 23-9
  • NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian- 18, Saint Katherine- not ranked
  • Location: ACU Events Center, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats For The Day

Inside the Box Score
  • Eight points into the game the score was tied 4-4 with Blackwell scoring all of the ACU points
  • USK built as large as a five point lead
  • But ACU countered and went back ahead 16-5 on a bucket from Howell
  • The Firestorm claimed their largest lead of the half at 27-21 with 5:51 remaining
  • Several ties later, the Firebirds closed out the half on an 8-0 run for a 37-32 edge going to the locker room
  • Neither team had a player reach double figures in scoring after 20 minutes
  • Trailing 52-51 with 8:52 left, Lorenzo Wright cashed in a jumper in the paint to move back in front… for good
  • A ten point lead nearly vanished as the Firebirds came within two twice
  • In the end, ACU survived four game tying or game winning attempts in the final 20 seconds
  • For the seventh time in their ten appearances in the NAIA national tournament, Arizona Christian will advance to the second round

Thoughts from Coach Rutter
"This felt very similar to last year's game against Corban.  Tough matchup after a long layoff from our last game.  They are a tough, well-coached team that is physical and defends well.  It was hard to get into a rhythm offensively.  I thought we took good shots early on and just missed them and forced some shots to end the half.  We played much more together in the second half,  the ball moved and our shot quality improved.  We just didn't do a great job defensively and didn't communicate well.  Saint Katherine got several shots they didn't have to work hard for and that can be demoralizing.  Will have to communicate and defend at a much higher level tomorrow against one of the NAIA's better offenses.  But at the end of the day, we are thankful for the win and the chance to compete another day against very good opponent."


Up Next
Arizona Christian will face Huntington (IN) in the second round of the NAIA tournament on Saturday.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.
 
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