Wildcats Storm Back to Take Down Thunderbirds

Saturday, February 21

Abilene

3 p.m.

Abilene Christian

13-14,5-9WAC

Southern Utah

9-19,5-10WAC

Southern Utah

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Aly Bayliss

Wildcats Storm Back to Take Down Thunderbirds

2/21/2026 10:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Evan Nemec

ABILENE — The ACU men's basketball team erased a 14-point deficit with an 87-83 triumph over Southern Utah on Saturday, giving the Wildcats three wins in their last four games.

ACU (13-14, 5-9) climbed to fifth place in the WAC thanks to its victory and Tarleton State's loss to Utah Tech. The sixth and seventh place teams are currently scheduled to play each other in what is essentially a 'play-in' game at the WAC Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas.

The Wildcats took their first lead on a four-point swing with 10:00 remaining. Joseph Venzant stole the ball, and Christian Alston made a layup in transition. Immediately following the bucket, Southern Utah's Elijah Duval was called for a technical foul which sent Bradyn Hubbard to the free throw line. Hubbard nailed both attempts to push ACU ahead 63-61. The Thunderbirds regained the lead a few seconds later on an and-1, but ACU pulled back in front and led for the game's final 8:52.

"I'm super proud of our guys, the way they fought back in the second half," head coach Brette Tanner said. "That team, number one is a good basketball team, but it's a terrible matchup for us, the way we play. We didn't have a great first half tonight, but having a great week, I think is how we were able to turn the page in the second half. [I am] just super thankful for made free throws."

Hubbard hit a massive 3-pointer in the midst of a 20-8 ACU run. With 2:45 left, Cbo Newton guarded the ballhandler and extended his arms out to swallow up a pass. The junior then dribbled ahead and was fouled while shooting a layup. He made 1-of-2 free throws to give ACU a 77-71 edge. The Cats then went 8-of-10 at the strip in the final 2:00 of game time.

"We did talk about that coming out of the last time out before that, 'We've got to have high hands,'" said Tanner. "That's exactly what [Newton] did. He did exactly what he was supposed to, then he went down there and made a play and knocked down a free throw. It was a huge play in the game."

STAT PACK

ACU set new season-highs in points scored (87), points in a second half (49), shooting percentage in a half (60%), turnovers forced (24), and points in the paint (48). The Cats also tied their best mark of the season with 15 steals, and by shooting 56% from the field for the game.
Cbo Newton scored a team-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. It is the first time in WAC play Newton has led ACU in scoring. Hubbard had the high point total in each of the Wildcats' five previous games.
Bradyn Hubbard was right behind with 15 points, and Rich Smith dropped in 14. Christian Alston chipped in 11 off the bench and Cade Hornecker put up 10 to give ACU five players in double-digit scoring.
Smith also had seven assists to just two turnovers, and four steals even though he dealt with foul trouble in the second.
Hubbard's three steals pushed him to 95 for his ACU career, which is tied for tenth most in the program's Division I era.
Hubbard leaped up on the single-season scoring leaderboard from 10th all the way to 5th. He now has 433 points this season, which is 55 from the Division I record of 487 (Jaylen Franklin, 2015-16).
ACU is now 6-0 this season when scoring 80+ points.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats have opportunity in front of them as their final four games of the WAC slate are against the fourth teams in front of them in the conference standings.

That stretch begins Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. CT at Utah Tech, and continues on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. CT against Utah Valley.