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Arizona Christian University

OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
2023-24 GSAC Regular Season Champs
Khaxil Stewart
Four time GSAC Regular Season Champs
77
Vanguard VU 14-13, 4-10 GSAC
96
Winner Arizona Christian ACU 21-7, 10-4 GSAC
Vanguard VU
14-13, 4-10 GSAC
77
Final
96
Arizona Christian ACU
21-7, 10-4 GSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Vanguard VU 29 48 77
Arizona Christian ACU 42 54 96

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Tim Gooszen

Arizona Christian Four Time GSAC Regular Season Champs

Glendale, Ariz.- Needing a win to grab at least a share of their fourth straight GSAC Regular Season Championship, Arizona Christian did win as they beat Vanguard 96-77.  Add in the GSAC tournament championship in 2019-20 and ACU has been atop the GSAC hill five straight seasons.  Dennis Flowers III became the 19th member of the ACU 1,000 point club.

Game Info
  • Game score: Arizona Christian- 96, Vanguard- 77
  • Records: Arizona Christian- 21-7, 10-4 GSAC, Vanguard- 14-13, 4-10 GSAC
  • NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian- 24, Vanguard- not ranked
  • Location: ACU Events Center, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats For The Day
Inside the Box Score
  • A couple of three pointers by Flowers and Hayden started the ACU scoring
  • Vanguard forge a 7-7 tie
  • A three pointer by Howell pushed ACU ahead
  • Gonzalez capped a 12-0 run with four points to send the Firestorm into a double point lead
  • Barring a seven second span, ACU maintain their double digit edge the rest of the first half
  • Hudgens (12 points) was the only player beyond seven points at the break
  • Howell dominated the first two minutes of the second half as he poured in eight points in that span
  • In a four and a half minute span, the Lions cut their deficit to single digits four times
  • A three pointer by Flowers with 4:38 to go punched his ticket into the ACU 1,000 point club
  • ACU started the day tied with The Master's for first place and both teams won for a co-championship
  • But with the results of other games going in favor of ACU, the Firestorm will head to the GSAC tournament as the top seed

Thoughts from Coach Rutter
"Really proud of this group.  They have worked really hard, grew closer together throughout the year and have been consistently improving.  They came out ready to play today.  Vanguard turned up the heat near the end of the half, and it took us some time to adjust.  I thought Vanguard played really well in the second half and kept hitting tough shots.  We answered most of their runs and guys made some huge plays to hold them off."

"Hats off to Coach Soliday and Vanguard.  This is the last time we will see them in the GSAC and we have enjoyed some great battles over the years.  Coach Soliday's teams are always among the most fierce competitors and he is truly one of the classiest coaches in the game."


Up Next
The men will head to Fullerton, CA, next week for the GSAC tournament hosted by Hope International.  Arizona Christian will have a bye in the opening round and play on Friday at 5:00 pm (CA)/ 6:00 pm (AZ).  Their opponent will be the winner of the fourth seed Jessup versus fifth seed OUAZ game on Thursday.
 
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