Gritty Wildcats Win Physical Battle Over Rival Texans

Thursday, January 8

Stephenville, TX

7 p.m.

Abilene Christian

10-6,2-1WAC

Tarleton State

11-6,2-2WAC

Abilene Christian

Tarleton St.

Cade Hornecker dunks against BYU on Dec. 19, 2025

Photo by: Joe Oliver

Gritty Wildcats Win Physical Battle Over Rival Texans

1/8/2026 11:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Evan Nemec

STEPHENVILLE, Texas -- The ACU men's basketball team never trailed, and Cade Hornecker recorded his first career double-double as the Wildcats grinded to an 84-80 win over Tarleton State on Thursday night.

ACU, spearheaded by Bradyn Hubbard's 22 points, had its best shooting game of the season just five days removed from previously setting a season-best against Utah Valley. The Wildcats connected on 29-of-52 shots (55.8%) versus the Texans. In last Saturday's win over the Wolverines, ACU hit on 54% of its shots.

Hornecker put up 12 points and grabbed ten rebounds for his first double-double in college, and the fourth of the season by a Wildcat player. Horncerker's 12 points are a new career-high for the fourth-year player from Amarillo. His ten rebounds tie his best mark.

The 86th meeting between the Wildcats and Texans was a grueling matchup which saw 50 fouls called between the two sides, including a double technical with 6:01 remaining in the game. Tarleton State sank 27-of-29 free throws. Three-time WAC Player of the Week Dior Johnson had his third consecutive game with 30+ points, but his 33 on Thursday were not enough to take down ACU.

STAT PACK

Four Wildcats finished in double-digit scoring: Hubbard, Hornecker, Rich Smith with 16 and Zy Wright with 12.
Since the start of WAC play, Smith has scored 17 points per game compared to his 7.5 points he averaged in nonconference. This was his fourth straight outing in double-figures.
Hubbard has poured in 22 points in three of the past four games -- all of which were Wildcat victories. ACU is 5-0 when Hubbard stacks up at least 20 points.
ACU's defense put the clamps on Tarleton's outside shooting, allowing a season-low one made 3-pointer.
The Wildcats won for the first time this season when its opponent had more bench points.
This was just ACU's second game decided by five points or fewer. The Wildcats beat Omaha 73-71 in the second game of the season on Nov. 6.
Head coach Brette Tanner picked up his 80th career win on Thursday.

Each team squares off against another three times in the WAC this season. ACU quickly returns to Stephenville on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tarleton State plays its only game in Abilene on Saturday, Feb. 14.

UP NEXT

ACU (10-6, 2-1) heads to the Metroplex to play UT Arlington, which did not play Thursday. The Mavericks are 10-5 overall, and also 2-1 in the WAC. The teams' series dates back to 1960 with ACU holding a 23-11 edge all-time. Tipoff is 2 p.m. Saturday at the College Park Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ACU Sports Network.