Hubbard's Clutch Shots Push ACU Past Omaha

ABILENE - Bradyn Hubbard scored five of his game-high 26 points in the final 0:43 to help the ACU Wildcats take down Omaha, 73-71 on Thursday night during Moody Madness, presented by Alon DK.

The Final Minute

The Mavericks held a one-point lead with under a minute to play when ACU turned the ball over, but Brock Scholl missed a fastbreak dunk attempt, and the ball bounced off several players out of bounds. The officials ruled it was Wildcat ball, and the call stood after a lengthy stoppage for an Omaha challenge.

Rich Smith bounced the ball down to the left block where Hubbard was left open. He went up, was hit underneath and banked in the lay-up, and subsequently made the free throw to complete the and-one play and give ACU a 71-69 advantage.

Omaha responded with two free throws to tie the score at 71-all with 0:30 remaining. The Wildcats held for the final shot, and as Smith tried to again feed Hubbard a foul was called from behind. Hubbard sank both shots at the free throw line, where he was 11-for-12 on the night, to go up two with 0:05 left. The Mavericks had a final chance, but their catch-and-shoot three-point attempt at the buzzer was short off the front rim, and the Wildcat players celebrated with the student section on the south baseline.

How We Got There

ACU used a 15-2 run to take a 29-16 lead over Omaha in the first half. However, the Mavericks responded with a 19-1 tear and we went to the break knotted up at 37-all. The second half was stop-and-start with 30 combined free throws taken. ACU went 14-of-17 at the line in the second half. The Wildcats went in front thanks to a 9-0 run at the start of the half, and led for 17:56 of the final 20 minutes. 

Hubbard scored 18 of his 26 points after halftime.

What's It Mean

ACU is now 2-0 for the first time since the Cats won three games at a multi-team event to open the 2020-21 season. Wildcat fans remember that year ended with a 52-51 victory over Texas in the NCAA Tournament.

Omaha won The Summit League in 2024-25, and was voted second in this year's preseason coaches poll.

Stat Pack

• Bradyn Hubbard's 26 points and 11 made free throws are both the most he's recorded in an ACU uniform. Hubbard's seven rebounds and four assists were also team-highs.
• Yaniel Rivera scored 11 points and sank three shots from behind the arc -- both new career-highs.
• ACU forced 16 turnovers, but only converted those mistakes into 14 points. Omaha, on the other hand, scored 23 points off the Wildcats' 14 turnovers.
• ACU shot 12 more field goals than Omaha in the first half, and ended with 14 more attempts (25-of-57 compared to 21-of-43).
• Head coach Brette Tanner notched career win No. 72 one day before his 50th birthday on Friday.

Up Next

The Wildcats complete their three-game homestand by hosting Southwestern Adventist on Tuesday at 3 p.m. for Staff and Faculty Appreciation Day. ACU then has two road trips in the Lone Star State -- Nov. 14 in a doubleheader with the women at Stephen F. Austin, and Nov. 18 at Texas State -- before playing UTSA and William & Mary in the Jacksonville Classic on Nov. 24-25.