Wednesday, March 11
Las Vegas, Nev.
7:30 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
14-18,5-13WAC
84
vs
78
Tarleton State
14-18,5-13WAC
1
2
F
Tarleton St.
25
53
78
Abilene Christian
39
45
84
Photo by: Luke White
Wildcats Win WAC Tournament Opener Behind Rivera's Career-High
3/11/2026 11:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - When the final horn sounded, several Abilene Christian players lifted their arms above their heads in jubilation -- or maybe relief -- that they'd outlasted old foe Tarleton State for the third time in four meetings this season, winning 84-78 in the opening round of the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats advance to face No. 3 Utah Tech in the tournament quarterfinals at 10:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
Junior guard Yaniel RIvera had his best game as a Wildcat, sinking five 3-pointers and ending with 20 points -- both new career-highs.
"I feel confident," said Rivera in the postgame press conference. I give thanks to my coaches and my teammates that believed in me all day."
Rich Smith had 17 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds while Bradyn Hubbard added 15 points. Cbo Newton scored nine before fouling out with 0:24 remaining.
"We talked about being loose and having some fun, and I think the guys played that way," fifth-year head coach Brette Tanner said. "You come in here, and if you win you get to play another day. I'm super excited that we get to do that because I had a lot of fun today."
ACU climbed out to a 13-4 lead thanks to a 10-0 run less than 7:00 in the game. The edge extended to as many as 16 points late in the first half, and the Wildcats were in front 39-25 at the break. Tarleton State trimmed its deficit to six a few times, and five in the final minute, but ACU kept the Texans at bay.
Wednesday's win was the Wildcats' first in the WAC Tournament since 2022 when ACU won three games to reach the championship game. The previous three years had ended in first-round exits.
"That was a really good basketball team, so it's a good feeling," said Smith, the senior point guard who had his 20th game of the season with at least five assists. "We want to keep this feeling. We're not ready to go home yet."
"My first two years we went out in the first round," added Rivera. "Being here and winning this first game, I'm just excited for what's next."
Hubbard became the program's Division I record-holder for most points in a season when he made a floating jumper in the paint just over 4:00 into the game. He entered the night tied in first place with Jaylen Franklin for the record. Hubbard now stands at 501 points this season, and is the 25th player in ACU history to reach that milestone.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
STAT PACK
COACH SAID IT...
Brette Tanner: "We've talked a lot about it in our local media, but these guys have been through a lot this year. The stuff that we've had to go through this year, it's like it never stops, right? When we get back up, we get punched again with something that's completely out of our control. These guys just keep getting back up. We just got to continue to fight and the character of these guys is why we deserved to win today.
"These guys deserved it because of how they played all year and how they never quit. It's been one of my most rewarding years yet. I know some people wouldn't understand that, but this has been one of the most rewarding and I hope it continues. It's been a fun group to coach because of their character."
UP NEXT
ACU takes on Utah Tech in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Air Force Reserve Basketball Tournament on Thursday night. It is the final game of a quadruple-header, so it is possible the 10:30 p.m. CT scheduled tipoff is delayed a few minutes.
The Wildcats lost all three regular season meetings to the Trailblazers, but the most recent on Feb. 26 was just a four-point game.
ESPN+ and the ACU Sports Network have coverage of Thursday's matchup.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats advance to face No. 3 Utah Tech in the tournament quarterfinals at 10:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
Junior guard Yaniel RIvera had his best game as a Wildcat, sinking five 3-pointers and ending with 20 points -- both new career-highs.
"I feel confident," said Rivera in the postgame press conference. I give thanks to my coaches and my teammates that believed in me all day."
Rich Smith had 17 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds while Bradyn Hubbard added 15 points. Cbo Newton scored nine before fouling out with 0:24 remaining.
"We talked about being loose and having some fun, and I think the guys played that way," fifth-year head coach Brette Tanner said. "You come in here, and if you win you get to play another day. I'm super excited that we get to do that because I had a lot of fun today."
ACU climbed out to a 13-4 lead thanks to a 10-0 run less than 7:00 in the game. The edge extended to as many as 16 points late in the first half, and the Wildcats were in front 39-25 at the break. Tarleton State trimmed its deficit to six a few times, and five in the final minute, but ACU kept the Texans at bay.
Wednesday's win was the Wildcats' first in the WAC Tournament since 2022 when ACU won three games to reach the championship game. The previous three years had ended in first-round exits.
"That was a really good basketball team, so it's a good feeling," said Smith, the senior point guard who had his 20th game of the season with at least five assists. "We want to keep this feeling. We're not ready to go home yet."
"My first two years we went out in the first round," added Rivera. "Being here and winning this first game, I'm just excited for what's next."
Hubbard became the program's Division I record-holder for most points in a season when he made a floating jumper in the paint just over 4:00 into the game. He entered the night tied in first place with Jaylen Franklin for the record. Hubbard now stands at 501 points this season, and is the 25th player in ACU history to reach that milestone.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
STAT PACK
- Yaniel Rivera set a new career-high with 20 points, just slipping by his previous best of 19 which was against Stephen F. Austin earlier this season on Nov. 14, 2025.
- The ACU defense allowed Tarleton to shoot just 28% from the field in the first half, tying the lowest field goal percentage in any half this season by a Wildcat opponent (New Mexico State also shot 28% in a half on Dec. 6).
- The Cats went 33-for-45 at the free throw line, which is good enough for the second most makes and attempts from the stripe in the Division I era. Only the 2023 win over UTEP had more as ACU went 34-for-48 in that contest.
- Zy Wright pushed past the 1,500-point mark of his collegiate career with seven points on Wednesday night.
- Rich Smith shot 14 free throws, launched him up the single-season leaderboard to 6th most. Bradyn Hubbard has167 free throw attempts in 2025-26.
- Smith also leapfrogged Jaylen Franklin to second place for most assists in a season. He now has 145 dimes in his senior campaign.
- ACU is now 7-1 this year when scoring 80+ points.
COACH SAID IT...
Brette Tanner: "We've talked a lot about it in our local media, but these guys have been through a lot this year. The stuff that we've had to go through this year, it's like it never stops, right? When we get back up, we get punched again with something that's completely out of our control. These guys just keep getting back up. We just got to continue to fight and the character of these guys is why we deserved to win today.
"These guys deserved it because of how they played all year and how they never quit. It's been one of my most rewarding years yet. I know some people wouldn't understand that, but this has been one of the most rewarding and I hope it continues. It's been a fun group to coach because of their character."
UP NEXT
ACU takes on Utah Tech in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Air Force Reserve Basketball Tournament on Thursday night. It is the final game of a quadruple-header, so it is possible the 10:30 p.m. CT scheduled tipoff is delayed a few minutes.
The Wildcats lost all three regular season meetings to the Trailblazers, but the most recent on Feb. 26 was just a four-point game.
ESPN+ and the ACU Sports Network have coverage of Thursday's matchup.
Team Stats
TSU
ACU
FG%
.414
.500
3FG%
.385
.333
FT%
.714
.733
RB
33
32
TO
13
15
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
ACU Men's Basketball: WAC Tournament vs. Tarleton postgame | March 11, 2026
Thursday, March 12
ACU Men's Basketball Press Conference | March 9, 2026
Tuesday, March 10
ACU Women's Basketball Press Conference | March 9, 2026
Tuesday, March 10
ACU Men's Basketball: vs. UT Arlington postgame | March 7, 2026
Sunday, March 08
