OMAHA, Neb. - Returning home for their first game at Baxter Arena after three weeks on the road, the Mavericks had a strong second half but ultimately closed out November with a 71-55 loss to Abilene Christian.
Omaha ends the first month of the season at 3-6, while the Wildcats improve to 5-3.
Leaders for Omaha
Tony Osburn led Omaha with his second 20-point game in a row as he finished with 24 on the night, shooting 8-for-12 (.667).
Marquel Sutton (13) and
Lance Waddles (10) also scored in double figures. Sutton also paced the Mavericks with seven free throws while Waddles was a rebound short of a double-double.
Team Stats
Omaha was outshot from the field 48.1% (26-for-54) to 36.4% (16-for-44) and on free throws 78.9% (15-for-19) to 75.0% (18-for-24). The Mavericks had a small edge in three-pointers at 31.3% (5-for-16) to 30.8% (4-for-13).
For just the third time this year, the Mavericks were out-rebounded 31 to 27.
Inside the First Half
Though Osburn started the night for Omaha with an early three, the Mavericks only scored three more points through the first eight minutes of the game as they soon found themselves trailing 14-6. After a bucket from Waddles at 11:31, the team started to find its rhythm as Osburn and
Isaac Ondekane followed up with a pair of layups, before Sutton made to from the line at 8:56 to cut ACU's lead to 18-14.
The Wildcats quickly responded, however, with nine unanswered over the next three minutes to regrow their lead to 27-14. A pull-up jumper from Sutton at 5:47 and a three from Waddles inside a minute left would be the only other points scored by the Mavericks in the half as they went ot the locker room trailing 39-19.
Inside the Second Half
Omaha struck first in the second half on back-to-back three-pointers from Waddles and Osburn got the Mavericks within 14. Osburn would continue to provide the bulk of the Mavericks' offense, scoring 12 of their next 20 to reach 20 points on the night and get Omaha within 12 with less than seven minutes to play. Sutton also added five points in this run to cross into double figures with an alley-oop at 8:53.
With 6:18 on the clock, a couple of free throws from Osburn managed to make it a 10-point game at 57-47.Omaha would not get any closer than this, however, as the the Wildcats closed out the game with a 13-8 run over the final minutes to come out on top.
Game Notes
- After a slow first half, Omaha outscored ACU 36-32 in the second half.
- Sutton has increased his double-digit scoring streak to eight straight games.
Full Press Conference
Up Next
Next week is the annual Big Sky Summit League Challenge. The Mavericks begin the event at home when they host Montana State on Wednesday at 7 p.m., before heading to California to face Sacramento State on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT).
