Wednesday, March 11
Las Vegas, Nev.
7:30 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
vs
Tarleton State
Photo by: Aly Bayliss
Hubbard, Wildcats Look for March Magic in Las Vegas
3/10/2026 10:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
When Bradyn Hubbard arrived at Abilene Christian, he wasn't looking for a spotlight—he was searching for a home. Now, as the senior forward prepares for his final WAC Basketball Tournament, he's become a cornerstone for the Wildcats, carrying both the weight of expectations and the belief of the locker room on his shoulders.
The Wildcats' final games were a gauntlet - road crowds, top-tier conference opponents, and senior night emotions - but Hubbard saw them as preparation.
"We had the game plan right," he said. "It's just about executing and staying together as a team."
ACU opens the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament as the No. 6 seed, and will play Tarleton State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Las Vegas. The Wildcats went 2-1 against the Texans in the regular season. The winner advances to play No. 3 Utah Tech on Thursday in the tournament quarterfinals.
Record-Setting Season
Hubbard enters the postseason tied for the most points (486) in a single season during ACU's Division I era, a testament to his consistency and the trust his team places in him. But personal achievements have never been the focus.
"I feel like it panned out perfect," said Hubbard about his decision to transfer from Connors State, a junior college in Warner, Okla., to ACU. After an All-America sophomore season, Hubbard chose the Wildcats over hometown colleges Tulsa and Oral Roberts.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else ever. The relationships I built here and the people I got to know, how welcoming everybody is, it's amazing."
That sense of belonging has fueled his play and steadied ACU through a challenging stretch to close the regular season, setting the stage for a do-or-die run in March.
Head coach Brette Tanner echoed that sentiment, pointing to Hubbard's leadership.
"I am really proud of Bradyn because he hasn't done it in a selfish way," said Tanner, ACU's fifth-year head coach. "There are guys who go out there and score points, they're hunting shots. Bradyn has done all of this playing within our system, doing what we've asked him to do. That's why it means more.
"In today's world, he could have easily left last year and gone off to make money. He wanted to stay here because he loves Abilene Christian, our program and his teammates."
A Team with a Chip
ACU knows the path won't be easy. They'll have to win four games in four days to reach the NCAA Tournament, but the Wildcats aren't shying away from the challenge.
"We've been through the toughest parts of the season," Hubbard said. "We're 0-0 now, and we're just ready to get some big wins here in March."
That mentality has been forged by adversity and reinforced by depth. With players like Cbo Newton, Christian Alston and others stepping up, Hubbard believes the team's physicality and togetherness will be their edge.
"We're deep," he said. "As long as everybody stays ready, we're gonna be good. It's gonna be a tough tournament, but having a deep bench is big time. As long as we're physical and have the right mindset, staying together, it's very big time.
Legacy Built on Trust
Hubbard is tied atop the Division I scoring leaderboard with Jaylen Franklin, who helped lead ACU to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
"It shows that my teammates have my back," said Hubbard. "My coaches as well, making sure I'm OK off the court and looking out for me on the court."
Now, with everything on the line in Las Vegas, Hubbard's focus is simple: win together.
"It'd be amazing," he said of making a run to the NCAA Tournament. "It'd be a true testament to our hard work and all the hardships we've been through. We all have each other's back, and we're very prepared."
The Wildcats' final games were a gauntlet - road crowds, top-tier conference opponents, and senior night emotions - but Hubbard saw them as preparation.
"We had the game plan right," he said. "It's just about executing and staying together as a team."
ACU opens the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament as the No. 6 seed, and will play Tarleton State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Las Vegas. The Wildcats went 2-1 against the Texans in the regular season. The winner advances to play No. 3 Utah Tech on Thursday in the tournament quarterfinals.
Record-Setting Season
Hubbard enters the postseason tied for the most points (486) in a single season during ACU's Division I era, a testament to his consistency and the trust his team places in him. But personal achievements have never been the focus.
"I feel like it panned out perfect," said Hubbard about his decision to transfer from Connors State, a junior college in Warner, Okla., to ACU. After an All-America sophomore season, Hubbard chose the Wildcats over hometown colleges Tulsa and Oral Roberts.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else ever. The relationships I built here and the people I got to know, how welcoming everybody is, it's amazing."
That sense of belonging has fueled his play and steadied ACU through a challenging stretch to close the regular season, setting the stage for a do-or-die run in March.
Head coach Brette Tanner echoed that sentiment, pointing to Hubbard's leadership.
"I am really proud of Bradyn because he hasn't done it in a selfish way," said Tanner, ACU's fifth-year head coach. "There are guys who go out there and score points, they're hunting shots. Bradyn has done all of this playing within our system, doing what we've asked him to do. That's why it means more.
"In today's world, he could have easily left last year and gone off to make money. He wanted to stay here because he loves Abilene Christian, our program and his teammates."
A Team with a Chip
ACU knows the path won't be easy. They'll have to win four games in four days to reach the NCAA Tournament, but the Wildcats aren't shying away from the challenge.
"We've been through the toughest parts of the season," Hubbard said. "We're 0-0 now, and we're just ready to get some big wins here in March."
That mentality has been forged by adversity and reinforced by depth. With players like Cbo Newton, Christian Alston and others stepping up, Hubbard believes the team's physicality and togetherness will be their edge.
"We're deep," he said. "As long as everybody stays ready, we're gonna be good. It's gonna be a tough tournament, but having a deep bench is big time. As long as we're physical and have the right mindset, staying together, it's very big time.
Legacy Built on Trust
Hubbard is tied atop the Division I scoring leaderboard with Jaylen Franklin, who helped lead ACU to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
"It shows that my teammates have my back," said Hubbard. "My coaches as well, making sure I'm OK off the court and looking out for me on the court."
Now, with everything on the line in Las Vegas, Hubbard's focus is simple: win together.
"It'd be amazing," he said of making a run to the NCAA Tournament. "It'd be a true testament to our hard work and all the hardships we've been through. We all have each other's back, and we're very prepared."
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