- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton men's basketball team won their sixth Lone Star Conference regular season title with a 74-62 win over Abilene Christian Saturday night in Wisdom Gym. This marks the second straight season the Texans were able to do so in front of their home fans. It is the Texans' second LSC Championship.
There were 2,298 fans in attendance as Tarleton locked up another conference championship.
The Texans got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead by the 16:50 mark, forcing an ACU time out.
Tarleton kept it at 9-2 by the first media timeout.
Shedrick Haynes led the early charge and started the game 4-for-4 from the three-point line.
By the 11:51 mark, it was a 19-5 contest in favor of the Texans. It got to as much as 23-5 before ACU started to storm back.
The Wildcats cut the margin to five at 27-22 with 5:51 left in the half. That capped a 17-5 run. Eventually, ACU tied the game at 27-27 with under four minutes to go.
Things continued to heat up and by halftime and it was tied once again at 34-34.
Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Texans shot 52.2 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from three-point range. They committed just six turnovers compared to seven assists.
Haynes led the way with 12 points while Wes Dipprey chipped in eight points.
Tarleton held ACU to 44.0 percent shooting in the first half.
In the second half, the host team came out with more energy in the first half and started a run of its own.
The Texans got back to a 10-point lead with 13:14 on the clock at 46-36.
Tarleton got a big bucket from Fabian Wilson at the 8:07 mark with an “and-one” basket.
Over the next few minutes, the Texans solidified their hold on the lead and the game.
With 2:22 to play, Tarleton had a 64-53 advantage and only had to hang on for a share of the LSC title. ACU attempted a comeback by launching three's, but only a few went in down the stretch. In the end, the No. 7 Texans were too consistent and steady for the Wildcats.
Tarleton (24-4, 15-3) clinched at least a share of the LSC title with the win. They tied Midwestern St. atop the LSC standings.
Overall, the Texans shot 56.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range. Tarleton forced 12 ACU turnovers and held the Wildcats to 40 percent shooting.
Wilson wrapped up a stellar regular season with 26 points while Haynes chipped in 16 points. Dipprey, Word and Harrell added eight points apiece.
Tarleton out-scored ACU 30-18 in the paint.
Marc Little scored 19 points to lead ACU with Zach Williams adding 17 points.
“I am so proud of our guys,” said head coach Lonn Reisman. “This has been a grueling 18-game Lone Star Conference season over the past three months. It means even more to these guys knowing the adversity they have been through. Our work is not done though. We will enjoy this tonight then get back to work next week getting ready for Allen.”
The Texans will now travel to Allen on Tuesday for the Lone Star Conference Championship at the Allen Event Center. Tarleton will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and face Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29.
For more information regarding the 2011-12 Texan basketball season, check out TarletonSports.com.
