Wildcats Finish First Round of WAC Play vs. CBU, at Southern Utah

The ACU men's basketball team rounds out the first of three runs through WAC opponents this week by hosting California Baptist on Thursday, and traveling to Southern Utah on Saturday.

The Wildcats (10-7 overall, 2-2 in WAC) are coming off a road trip which saw them beat Tarleton State 84-80, and lose to UT Arlington 82-72. Senior Bradyn Hubbard averaged 24.5 points over the two games and was named the WAC Player of the Week for the second time in the last three weeks.

Thursday's 7 p.m. game serves as the Welcome Back Bash presented by United Supermarkets. CBU (12-6, 2-3)  was voted the preseason favorite to win the conference, but stumbled out of the gate with three consecutive losses. The Lancers have rebounded to win their last two and are led by Dominique Daniels, Jr. who is second in the WAC with 21 points per game.

The Wildcats then make the flight to Cedar City, Utah to face Southern Utah on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Thunderbirds (4-13, 0-4) enter this week on a seven-game losing streak and will host Tarleton State on Thursday before playing ACU.


NOTES ON THE CATS

• ACU has shot at least 50% from the field in six of its last seven halves, including 57% (12-of-21) in the second half at UTA.
• Rich Smith handed out a season-high eight assists against the Mavericks and pushed his double-digit scoring streak to five straight games. He now has 176 assists as a Wildcat which moved him to 10th most in ACU's Division I era.
• During WAC play, Bradyn Hubbard is averaging 18.75ppg (5th in WAC) while Smith is at 16.5ppg (7th in WAC). ACU is one of two WAC teams with a pair of top 7 scorers.
• ACU is now 8-1 when holding teams under 70 points, and 8-1 when they score at least 70.
• In his 125th college game, Joseph Venzant grabbed his 600th career rebound against UTA.

HUBBARD'S POINT WATCH

• Bradyn Hubbard set a new Division I career-high for himself with 27 points at UTA.
• It was his 7th game with 20+ points this season, and 4th in the past five games. He is averaging 16.6 ppg, which ranks 3rd most in the WAC.
• Hubbard is 13 points from hitting 2,000 for his college career (597 at ACU, 1,390 at Connors State).