ACU Handles Early Storm, Overwhelmed Late in Season-Opener at Colorado

Monday, November 2

Boulder, Colo.

8 p.m. (CT)

Abilene Christian

0-1,0-0UAC

Colorado

1-0,0-0Big 12

Team	1	2	F
Abilene Christian	34	25	59
Colorado	36	58	94

Yaniel Rivera elevates for a shot against Colorado on Nov. 2, 2026

11/2/2026 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Evan Nemec

BOULDER, Colo. – The Abilene Christian men's basketball team held a lead right before halftime but could not withstand a 2^nd half shooting barrage, losing to the Big 12's Colorado Buffaloes 94-59 in the 2026-27 season opener Monday night.

On a team with 11 newcomers, including three in the starting lineup, New Mexico transfer Timeo Pons led ACU with 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Willan Marie-Anais and Evan Boisdur, who both hail from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, each dropped in 11 off the bench.

The Wildcats grabbed a brief 34-33 lead 7 seconds before halftime by using a 10-0 run. Pons nailed back-to-back 3-pointers and Marie-Anais scored consecutive buckets to put ACU ahead by one. With 0:26 remaining in the 1^st half, Pons drove baseline and missed a lay-up but Marie-Anais elevated for the tip-in. Colorado then tried to set up for the final possession, but Marie-Anais swiped the ball loose and went coast-to-coast, using a Euro-step and finger roll to polish off the 10-0 Wildcat tear. The Buffaloes answered with a 3-pointer before the buzzer to retake the lead, 36-34, at the break.

Colorado then shot 76% (22/29) from the field in the 2^nd half while ACU struggled at 32% and was 0/12 from behind the arc.

The Wildcats scored 11 points off 11 Buffs turnovers. Marie-Anais recorded eight rebounds and three steals – both game-highs.

ACU was without three players – 7-footer Cade Hornecker, and transfers Noah Bolanga and Gus Salem. Bolanga, who was voted to the Preseason All-UAC Team, is currently ruled ineligible by the NCAA however head coach Brette Tanner is "very confident" that ruling will be overturned.

UP NEXT

The Cats play their home opener when they welcome the Lamar Cardinals to Moody Coliseum at 1 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+. ACU has won 12 in the series dating back to Jan. 2016, with the most recent meeting a 77-42 win in Abilene on Feb. 24, 2022.

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