Aggie men fall to ACU

GAME BOXSCORE >>

ABILENE, Texas (Jan. 3) -  Chad Crawford posted a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Cameron men's basketball team Saturday. The Aggies dipped to 5-6 on the season with a 75-79 loss on the road to Abilene Christian.

Coach Garrette Mantle's club will look to rebound from two straight losses on Monday, when the Aggies travel to San Angelo, Texas, to face Angelo State.

Saturday's contest was a battle from start to finish, featuring six ties and 15 lead changes. Cameron led by as many as six on two occassions in the first half, while ACU led by no more than seven in the second frame.

The Wildcats (8-3) built their biggest lead of the game with 36 seconds to play. David Baxter's free throws made it 78-71 and appeared to seal an ACU victory. But Cameron rallied with four points in a span of 23 seconds, capitalizing on an ACU turnover to pull within three. Melvin Mitchell went to the line for a convetional three-point play after his bucket made it 78-75 with four seconds to play. But the free throw attempt was off the mark and ACU's Tucker Pierson corralled the rebound and made one of two free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.

Pierson led the Wildcats with 23 points, while Baxter added 20. Marcus Girtmon chipped in 12 points in the losing effort for the Aggies. Cameron held a 19-6 advantage in bench scoring, but four of ACU's five starters scored in double figures.

Trailing 9-10 midway through the first half, Cameron used a quick 7-0 run to take the lead. Jumpers by Girtmon and Mitchell sandwiched a Chad Caudill three-pointer that put the Aggies up 17-11 with 12:46 left in the half. Cameron led by six points at the 7:49 mark of the opening period, as well. Jeremy Amos scored on a layup to make it 25-19 Aggies, but Abilene Christian finished the half on a 13-6 run to take a 32-31 halftime lead.