Thursday, February 26
St. George, UT
8 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
at
Utah Tech
Photo by: Aly Bayliss
Newton Takes Aggressive Style Back to Utah This Weekend
2/25/2026 11:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ACU plays at Utah Tech on Thursday, Utah Valley on Saturday
Cbo Newton remembers how slow his recruitment felt out of high school. He spent his senior year at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, about 100 miles south of Salt Lake City, waiting for the right opportunity.
"My senior year, my recruitment process was very slow," Newton said. "It was a waiting game. I had to be patient. But you know what, it all worked out in my favor. I'm glad I found ACU."
A few years later, Newton is making his mark with the Wildcats. The transfer from Grambling State has become a key piece during the conference stretch, bringing scoring, energy, and confidence to a team that's finding its best form at the right time.
A New Level of Aggression
Since entering the starting lineup, Newton has brought exactly what the Wildcats needed — another gear.
"Just being more aggressive, you know, giving what the team needs," he said. "They need for me to be more aggressive. I feel like that gets everybody else going. So me being that aggressor and getting us going and getting us started, I'd be that every time."
The numbers back it up. Newton has started eight straight games and scored in double figures in four of the last five. His ability to attack off the dribble, finish through contact, and spot up from the perimeter has given ACU another scoring option as the postseason approaches.
ACU has won three of its last four games, and has leaned on its February momentum in recent years (the Wildcats are 20-13 in the month over the last five seasons). Newton's emergence has helped fuel another late surge.
Finding His Fit at ACU
Newton's path to Abilene wasn't direct. ACU's coaches first watched him at Wasatch while on a previous WAC road trip to Utah Valley. Newton committed to Southern Utah initially, then changed to Grambling State after a coaching change. He spent two years at Grambling, but another coaching change sent him into the transfer portal. He was looking for a place that fit his game and his personality. He found both at ACU.
"Grambling to ACU is totally different," Newton said. "It's more focus. The coaches, the players — everything is just better. When I first came, it kind of took me a while to get accustomed to it, but once I did, I started to love it. I don't want to be nowhere else."
His transition was made easier by people who believed in him right away.
"Coach Doug Karleskint, he's a big part of making my transition easier," Newton said. "He keeps my confidence high. And Bradyn Hubbard, of course, he's been here, so he's just helping me with the rundown — what coach Tanner expects from us and how this league is gonna go. It's everything they told me."
Newton also credits Ryan Bowman, associate athletic director for student-athlete experience and life skills, for helping him settle in. Bowman transitioned to ACU Athletics in August 2025 after 15 years in various roles across the university. His gregarious and caring nature allows him to carve out genuine relationships, particularly with student-athletes.
"That's my guy," Newton said. "He's part of my reason why I'm so focused. Just our talks, just seeing him around, he brightens everybody's day. Sometimes I feel like I need that, being away from home. He keeps you up-to-date on life, makes sure your mentals are OK, your school is OK. Just a good person to have around."
Locked In Down the Stretch
The Wildcats are playing with confidence and purpose as the regular season winds down.
"It's a bunch of positivity," Newton said. "We're very excited, very anxious. We're just looking to keep competing, keep winning, make it to the tournament, and hopefully win more."
With four games left — all against teams ahead of ACU in the conference standings — Newton sees opportunity.
"Just like coach Tanner said, 'We gotta finish the race,'" Newton said. "We're not looking for any handouts. We're willing to take what's ours. We work so hard, we feel like we deserve it, so we just gotta go out there and prove it. We can compete with anybody, so anything is possible for us. We still believe."
Through the ups and downs of the season, Newton and the Wildcats have stayed focused on what matters most.
"All we're worried about is the guys in the room with us," he said. "That's all we can really focus on. We only can control what we can control, so we're just trying to stay focused on ourselves and our goals."
A Return to a Second Home
This week's road trip carries extra meaning for Newton. ACU travels to Utah Tech on Thursday and Utah Valley on Saturday — two familiar places from his Wasatch Academy days.
"Utah is like a second home," Newton said. "I love it. I see some of my people. I'm very familiar with Utah Valley. We used to go there all the time, watch them play. It's just like a second home. I love it in Utah. If I could, I'd move back.
"The scenery, the snow, the people — I didn't like the snow at first, but it kind of grew on me," Newton said. "It's perfect for me."
The Next Step
Newton has found his place at ACU — on the court and in the community.
"I love the people," he said. "They're very nice. They're helpful. They just want to see you succeed."
For a player who once waited patiently for his chance, Newton has found it — and he's making the most of it.
This Week
ACU faces Utah Tech on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT, then travels to Utah Valley on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+, and on the ACU Sports Network.
If the Wildcats beat the Trailblazers, they'll stay in fifth place in the WAC which is an important place to be because currently the No. 6 and No. 7 seed teams are set to face off in what is essentially a 'play-in' game on the first day of the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. Landing in the bottom two would mean having to win four games in four days to win the league, and claim the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
"My senior year, my recruitment process was very slow," Newton said. "It was a waiting game. I had to be patient. But you know what, it all worked out in my favor. I'm glad I found ACU."
A few years later, Newton is making his mark with the Wildcats. The transfer from Grambling State has become a key piece during the conference stretch, bringing scoring, energy, and confidence to a team that's finding its best form at the right time.
A New Level of Aggression
Since entering the starting lineup, Newton has brought exactly what the Wildcats needed — another gear.
"Just being more aggressive, you know, giving what the team needs," he said. "They need for me to be more aggressive. I feel like that gets everybody else going. So me being that aggressor and getting us going and getting us started, I'd be that every time."
The numbers back it up. Newton has started eight straight games and scored in double figures in four of the last five. His ability to attack off the dribble, finish through contact, and spot up from the perimeter has given ACU another scoring option as the postseason approaches.
ACU has won three of its last four games, and has leaned on its February momentum in recent years (the Wildcats are 20-13 in the month over the last five seasons). Newton's emergence has helped fuel another late surge.
Finding His Fit at ACU
Newton's path to Abilene wasn't direct. ACU's coaches first watched him at Wasatch while on a previous WAC road trip to Utah Valley. Newton committed to Southern Utah initially, then changed to Grambling State after a coaching change. He spent two years at Grambling, but another coaching change sent him into the transfer portal. He was looking for a place that fit his game and his personality. He found both at ACU.
"Grambling to ACU is totally different," Newton said. "It's more focus. The coaches, the players — everything is just better. When I first came, it kind of took me a while to get accustomed to it, but once I did, I started to love it. I don't want to be nowhere else."
His transition was made easier by people who believed in him right away.
"Coach Doug Karleskint, he's a big part of making my transition easier," Newton said. "He keeps my confidence high. And Bradyn Hubbard, of course, he's been here, so he's just helping me with the rundown — what coach Tanner expects from us and how this league is gonna go. It's everything they told me."
Newton also credits Ryan Bowman, associate athletic director for student-athlete experience and life skills, for helping him settle in. Bowman transitioned to ACU Athletics in August 2025 after 15 years in various roles across the university. His gregarious and caring nature allows him to carve out genuine relationships, particularly with student-athletes.
"That's my guy," Newton said. "He's part of my reason why I'm so focused. Just our talks, just seeing him around, he brightens everybody's day. Sometimes I feel like I need that, being away from home. He keeps you up-to-date on life, makes sure your mentals are OK, your school is OK. Just a good person to have around."
Locked In Down the Stretch
The Wildcats are playing with confidence and purpose as the regular season winds down.
"It's a bunch of positivity," Newton said. "We're very excited, very anxious. We're just looking to keep competing, keep winning, make it to the tournament, and hopefully win more."
With four games left — all against teams ahead of ACU in the conference standings — Newton sees opportunity.
"Just like coach Tanner said, 'We gotta finish the race,'" Newton said. "We're not looking for any handouts. We're willing to take what's ours. We work so hard, we feel like we deserve it, so we just gotta go out there and prove it. We can compete with anybody, so anything is possible for us. We still believe."
Through the ups and downs of the season, Newton and the Wildcats have stayed focused on what matters most.
"All we're worried about is the guys in the room with us," he said. "That's all we can really focus on. We only can control what we can control, so we're just trying to stay focused on ourselves and our goals."
A Return to a Second Home
This week's road trip carries extra meaning for Newton. ACU travels to Utah Tech on Thursday and Utah Valley on Saturday — two familiar places from his Wasatch Academy days.
"Utah is like a second home," Newton said. "I love it. I see some of my people. I'm very familiar with Utah Valley. We used to go there all the time, watch them play. It's just like a second home. I love it in Utah. If I could, I'd move back.
"The scenery, the snow, the people — I didn't like the snow at first, but it kind of grew on me," Newton said. "It's perfect for me."
The Next Step
Newton has found his place at ACU — on the court and in the community.
"I love the people," he said. "They're very nice. They're helpful. They just want to see you succeed."
For a player who once waited patiently for his chance, Newton has found it — and he's making the most of it.
This Week
ACU faces Utah Tech on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT, then travels to Utah Valley on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+, and on the ACU Sports Network.
If the Wildcats beat the Trailblazers, they'll stay in fifth place in the WAC which is an important place to be because currently the No. 6 and No. 7 seed teams are set to face off in what is essentially a 'play-in' game on the first day of the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. Landing in the bottom two would mean having to win four games in four days to win the league, and claim the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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