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OUAZ Athletics

Jayce Catchings -- December 8, 2022
Richard Martinez
68
OUAZ OUAZ 6-4, 2-3 GSAC
69
Winner Arizona Christian ACU 9-1, 4-1 GSAC
OUAZ OUAZ
6-4, 2-3 GSAC
68
Final
69
Arizona Christian ACU
9-1, 4-1 GSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
OUAZ OUAZ 27 41 68
Arizona Christian ACU 35 34 69

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Spirit Upset Attempt Falls Short

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Seconds from pulling the upset, the OUAZ men's basketball team could not finish the job in a 69-68 loss at No. 3 Arizona Christian on Thursday night at the ACU Events Center.

OUAZ (6-4, 2-3 GSAC) had the 68-67 lead and the ball when they turned it over to Arizona Christian (9-1, 4-1) with 8.5 seconds to play. Trent Hudgens drove for the go-ahead layup, then Keshawn Bruner missed a baseline jumper, and the follow from Alex Villi was off as time expired.

The Spirit fell behind 27-14 at the 6:01 mark in the first half before a late run sent the game to halftime with ACU leading 35-27. OUAZ slowly chipped away in the second half and took the lead when Villi hit a three with 1:48 to play. It was 68-65 when Hudgens scored prior to the decisive turnover.

OUAZ finished shooting a season-low 39.3 percent from the field. They missed the first 11 3-point shots they attempted before finishing 6 of 21 from beyond the arc. The Spirit used 22 points from the Firestorm's 15 turnovers to get back in the game.

Jayce Catchings scored 18 points off the bench to lead the Spirit. His lone three of the game tied the score at 59-59 with 3:01 to play and capped a 10-0 run. Villi added 16 points with a pair of made threes.

Defensively, the Spirit held ACU to a season-low point total and limited them to 43.5 percent shooting. The Firestorm missed their final nine attempts from deep to finish 1 of 14, but they used a 46-28 advantage in the paint to counter.

Hudgens led ACU with 21 points.

The Spirit has four non-conference games remaining before Christmas, starting against Benedictine Mesa on Wednesday at The PHHacility.
 
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