ABILENE, Texas – HBU forwards Cody Joyce and Colter Lasher each scored career highs, but Abilene Christian rode a hot-shooting second half to an 87-81 victory over the Huskies in Southland Conference basketball Thursday night at Moody Coliseum.
 
Joyce went 7-of-8 from the field and 8-for-12 from the free line to score 22 points, his first career 20-point game. Lasher hit 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and led the Huskies (4-19, 1-10 SLC) with four rebounds. Sophomore guard Caleb Crayton, junior guard Tyler Russell and junior center Ricmonds Vilde each scored eight points, and freshman guard Jimmy Barton had a career-high eight assists.
 
Parker Wentz shot 8-for-11 from the floor, 10-for-11 from the line to lead ACU (8-15, 2-7) with 27 points and five assists. Off the bench, Julian Edmonson added 18 points and Jacob Lancaster had 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Michael Grant and Rafael Farley each had 10 points for the Wildcats.
 
HBU shot 60 percent from the field for the game, 5-for-13 from 3-point range, and 16-for-28 from the free throw line. ACU shot 61 percent, 70 percent in the second half, 5-for-9 from three, and 28-for-38 from the line. The Wildcats outrebounded the Huskies, 28-24.
 
ACU scored six-straight on a free throw by Grant, a three by Farley and a layup by Wentz to take an early lead, but a free throw by freshman guard Reveal Chukwujekwu and a three by Lasher put HBU ahead, 9-8, with 14:04 left. The Wildcats answered to the game, 14-14, then scored four-straight to go ahead.
 
Barton found Joyce underneath, then the Huskies made a steal and Lasher got an easy two to tie it, 18-18, with 5:43 left. ACU took the lead back on a pair of free throws by Wentz, but Joyce powered in for a layup and Lasher nailed another three to give HBU the lead. Emonson made one-of-two and Wentz sank a pair to tie it at 23, the two teams traded baskets until two free throws by Grant and a putback by Pegues regained the lead for the Wildcats.
 
Sophomore guard Mike Turner buried a three with just over a minute remaining to give HBU a one-point lead, but Wentz answered with a 17-footer on the other end. Turner missed a three, but Russell grabbed the rebound and laid it in off the glass. Lancaster's turnaround hook with three seconds on the clock gave ACU a 35-34 lead at the break.
 
HBU shot 64 percent, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc, but only 3-of-12 from the free throw line, while ACU shot 52 percent, 1-of-3 from long range, and 12-for-18 from the stripe. The Wildcats outrebounded the Huskies, 17-12, and there were nine lead changes and eight ties in the opening frame.
 
Grant opened the second half with a jumper and Farley hit a three to put ACU ahead by six, but Chukwujekwu made a floater and Joyce followed with a layup to get HBU back within two. The Wildcats came back with two free throws and a three by Wentz to give them a 47-40 lead with 16:22 to go, but Lasher made a layup and Crayton drilled a three to once again get the Huskies within two. After Cooke hit a trey, Joyce converted a three-point play and Crayton buried another three from the corner to put HBU ahead, 51-50.
 
The lead was short-lived as Edmonson answered with a three, but Womack tied it with a free-throw line jumper. Lewis gave the Huskies a 58-57 lead, but failed to make it a three-point play, then Wentz knocked down a jumper, was fouled and made the free throw to put the Wildcats up by two. Vilde made a pair of free throws to tie it, but Edmonson banked a runner off the glass, then a three-point play, and Wentz made layup to make it 67-60 with 8:08 to go.
 
An 8-1 run by HBU, capped with a layup by Barton tied it at 70 with 5:14 remaining. Wentz made a pull-up, baseline jumper, but Joyce sank a pair of free throws to keep it even. Edmonson put a runner in off the glass, but Joyce once again hit a pair from the line. A pair of Grant free throws and a baseline jumper gave ACU a 78-74 lead, then Russell made an 18-footer for HBU. Lancaster made one-of-two from the line, then Wentz hit and off-balance shot to put the Wildcats ahead, 81-76, with 1:48 on the clock. Joyce hit the second of two free throws and HBU made a stop, then Russell drove in for a layup, but was called for a charge. From there, ACU was able to put it away from the free throw line.
 
The Huskies play their fourth-straight road game against Incarnate Word Saturday at 4 p.m. in San Antonio, before returning home for six of their next seven games. The HBU Alumni Association will be hosting a reception for all Huskies fans following the game. More information on the event can be found on the HBU Alumni Association Facebook page.