First-half run fuels Aggie win over Abilene Christian

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ABILENE, Texas (Nov. 19) - The Cameron men's basketball team used a 16-4 run late in the first half to break open a tie game and cruise to an 88-75 victory over Abilene Christian Friday at ACU's Moody Coliseum.

Senior forward Marcus Girtmon scored a game-high 26 points, including nine of the Aggies' points in the pivotal minutes just before halftime, helping Cameron improve to 2-0 on the season. The Aggies will look to remain in the win column on Saturday, concluding action in the ACU Tipoff Classic with a 2 p.m., meeting with Hardin-Simmons.

Girtmon, who finished the game 10-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-10 from the line, was one of five Aggies to score in double-digits against the Wildcats (1-1). Eric Moore added 15 points off the bench and Arthur Trousdell added 14, including a 6-of-6 effort at the free throw line that kept the junior center perfect in 10 charity attempts this season. Sean Ormsby (12) and Chris Booth (10) also posted double-figure scoring for the Aggies.

Cameron committed 15 turnovers in the game, but fared well in all other areas. The Aggies shot an even 50 percent from the floor in the contest and out-rebounded ACU 37-29. Coach Garrette Mantle's squad also recorded 22 assists and eight steals on the night.

The teams battled back and forth throughout much of the first half, until the Aggies broke it open. ACU's David Baxter provided the game's seventh tie score with a layup at the 5:07 mark of the opening period, but Cameron answered with nine straight points to take the lead for good. Girtmon scored on three straight Aggie possessions in less than two minutes and capped the 16-4 Cameron run with a conventional three-point play with 32 seconds remaining in the half.

ACU got a pair of free throws by Joe Carr just before the half, but still entered the locker room shell-shocked and trailing 50-39.

Cameron scored the first four points of the second half and led by as many as 17 in the final period. ACU cut the lead to 10 on two occasions midway through the half, but never got within single digits after the break.

Hakim Rasul led the Wildcats with 23 points on eight field goals and seven free throws. Baxter chipped in 22.