WACO, Texas – The Abilene Christian men's basketball team faced a tough challenge against the 25th-ranked Baylor Bears, ultimately falling 88-57 on Saturday night at Foster Pavilion. The Wildcats battled throughout but struggled to match Baylor's efficiency and depth in front of a packed crowd.
ACU opened the game strong with Bradyn Hubbard's early jumper tying the score at 2-2, but Baylor quickly took control. Leonardo Bettiol led the Wildcats with 16 points, shooting 55% from the field and converting six free-throw attempts. Bettiol's first-half efforts, including 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting, kept ACU fighting against Baylor's relentless pace.
The Bears capitalized on their size and speed, outscoring the Wildcats 50-28 in the paint and shooting 59.3% from the field.
Just two Wildcats found the net from distance. Hunter Jack Madden and Colby Tanner drained a three-pointer each, putting ACU at 2-of-14 from behind the arc.
ACU's offense gained momentum in the second half, shooting 41% from the floor and improving their free-throw accuracy to 90%. However, the team couldn't overcome Baylor's dominant 24-point halftime lead.
The Wildcats will stay home on Saturday, Dec. 14 to host Hardin-Simmons at Moody Coliseum, with tip-off set for 6 p.m. This marks the first meeting between the two teams since ACU defeated the Cowboys in 2020.
