Abilene Christian Wildcats Edge Tarleton State Texans in Thriller
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Orleans Arena
Abilene Christian Wildcats 84, Tarleton State Texans 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Tarleton State Texans vs Abilene Christian Wildcats?
Abilene Christian Wildcats beat Tarleton State Texans 84-78 at Orleans Arena on March 11, 2026.
Who was favored in Tarleton State Texans vs Abilene Christian Wildcats?
Abilene Christian Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -112 (about 53% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Abilene Christian Wildcats triumphed over the Tarleton State Texans with a final score of 84-78. This game, held at the Orleans Arena, showcased the competitive spirit of two teams that finished the regular season with identical records of 14-18. The victory was particularly significant for the Wildcats, who halted a four-game losing streak, while the Texans also faced a similar fate with their own four-game skid.
The Wildcats entered this game with a recent form of 3-7 over their last ten games, averaging 66.0 points scored per game and allowing 71.3 points. Their last five games reflected a record of 1-4, with an average of 68.0 points scored and 78.6 points allowed. The Wildcats had a home record of 3-1 in their last four home games, a stark contrast to their away struggles, where they went 0-6.
On the other hand, the Texans also boasted a 3-7 record over their last ten games, scoring an average of 64.9 points while allowing 69.5. Their last five games yielded a record of 1-4, with an average of 69.8 points scored and 76.0 points allowed. The Texans had a home record of 2-3 and an away record of 1-4, underscoring their challenges on the road.
The matchup was the latest in a series of six meetings between the two teams, with the Wildcats holding a slight edge in their head-to-head record at 3-2-1. In their previous encounter on February 17, 2026, the Texans narrowly defeated the Wildcats 65-62. However, the Wildcats had secured a victory against the Texans just a few days earlier on February 14, winning 73-59 at home.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but both teams had been struggling with consistency, which could be attributed to various factors, including potential injuries.
The betting market reflected a tight contest, with DraftKings listing the Wildcats as 1.5-point favorites. The total points line was set at 134.5, with odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under. The moneyline indicated a slight preference for the Wildcats at -112, while the Texans were priced at -108.
The game conditions were typical for a neutral site, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths. Viewers were treated to an exciting finish, as the Wildcats managed to maintain their lead in the closing moments. Key scoring plays included free throws by Cbo Newton and Yaniel Rivera, as well as a crucial three-point jumper by Kaia Isaac, which helped the Wildcats secure their victory. The Wildcats' ability to convert free throws in the final minutes proved decisive, as they successfully extended their lead to 84-78.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the intensity of NCAAB competition, with both teams fighting for momentum as they head into the postseason.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ACU -1.5 | 134.5 o -105 / u -115 | Tarleton State Texans -108 · Abilene Christian Wildcats -112 |
Leaders
- PointsYaniel Rivera20Abilene Christian Wildcats
- AssistsRich Smith7Abilene Christian Wildcats
- ReboundsBradyn Hubbard6Abilene Christian Wildcats
- PointsDior Johnson28Tarleton State Texans
- AssistsDior Johnson3Tarleton State Texans
- ReboundsChris Mpaka6Tarleton State Texans
Recent form
Abilene Christian Wildcats
Last 10: 3-7Streak L466 scored · 71.3 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L57-64vs UT Arlington MavericksMar 8
- L48-87at California Baptist LancersMar 6
- L67-74at Utah Valley WolverinesFeb 28
- L81-85at Utah Tech TrailblazersFeb 27
- W87-83vs Southern Utah ThunderbirdsFeb 21
- L62-65at Tarleton State TexansFeb 17
- W73-59vs Tarleton State TexansFeb 14
- W67-63vs UT Arlington MavericksFeb 13
- L63-65at California Baptist LancersFeb 8
- L55-68at Utah Valley WolverinesFeb 6
Tarleton State Texans
Last 10: 3-7Streak L464.9 scored · 69.5 allowed per game1-4 away
- L60-65vs UT Arlington MavericksMar 6
- L67-82at California Baptist LancersMar 1
- L72-79at Utah Valley WolverinesFeb 27
- L72-80vs Utah Tech TrailblazersFeb 21
- W78-74vs Southern Utah ThunderbirdsFeb 20
- W65-62vs Abilene Christian WildcatsFeb 17
- L59-73at Abilene Christian WildcatsFeb 14
- W62-59at Southern Utah ThunderbirdsFeb 8
- L55-56at California Baptist LancersFeb 6
- L59-65vs Utah Tech TrailblazersJan 31
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley | 25-9 | - | 14-4 |
| California Baptist | 25-9 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Utah Tech | 19-15 | 2 | 11-7 |
| UT Arlington | 18-14 | 5 | 9-9 |
| Southern Utah | 10-22 | 7 | 6-12 |
| Tarleton State | 14-18 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Abilene Christian | 14-19 | 9 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Tarleton State Texans | Abilene Christian Wildcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-58 | 23-46 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 5-13 | 5-15 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 33 |
| Free throws | 25-35 | 33-45 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 26 |
| Assists | 9 | 14 |
| Steals | 9 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 28 |
| Fouls | 32 | 28 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 3 | 90 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half47-56Rich Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-56Dior Johnson makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half49-57Cbo Newton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-57Leroy Kelly IV makes driving layup (Dior Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half51-59Rich Smith makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-61Zy Wright makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half51-64Yaniel Rivera makes 23-foot three point jumper (Rich Smith assists)
- 2nd Half54-64Dior Johnson makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot (Leroy Kelly IV assists)
- 2nd Half54-66Cbo Newton makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half55-66Dior Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-66Leroy Kelly IV makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half59-66Dior Johnson makes 29-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half59-68Bradyn Hubbard makes 10-foot jumper (Cbo Newton assists)
- 2nd Half61-68Dior Johnson makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half61-69Bradyn Hubbard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-70Bradyn Hubbard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-71Rich Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-72Rich Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-72Ocypher Owens makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-73Rich Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-74Rich Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-75Rich Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-75Jordan Mizell makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-75Dior Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-76Bradyn Hubbard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-77Bradyn Hubbard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-77Dior Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-77Dior Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-78Cbo Newton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-78Kaia Isaac makes 26-foot three pointer (Jordan Mizell assists)
- 2nd Half71-79Rich Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-79Jordan Mizell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half73-80Cbo Newton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-81Cbo Newton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-81Kaia Isaac makes 29-foot three point jumper (Jordan Mizell assists)
- 2nd Half76-82Yaniel Rivera makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-83Yaniel Rivera makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-83Kaia Isaac makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half78-83Kaia Isaac makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half78-84Zy Wright makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Abilene Christian Wildcats, below favours Tarleton State Texans.
Venue
- Orleans ArenaLas Vegas, NV
- Attendance760
- OfficialsD.G. Nelson, Tyler Kumpf, Nomi Kidwai
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season