HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, Abilene Christian used a dominant second-half surge to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat Texas Southern 75-68 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Health & P.E. Arena.

The Wildcats, who improved to 8-5, trailed 36-33 at the break but outscored the Tigers 42-32 in the final 20 minutes. The victory snapped a two-game skid for Abilene Christian, which had dropped road contests at Arizona and BYU in its previous outings. Texas Southern fell to 1-9 with the loss, its seventh straight defeat against Division I competition.

The most important part of the game was Abilene Christian’s decisive 16-2 run early in the second half, which flipped the contest on its head. After Texas Southern’s Bryce Roberts opened the half with a 3-pointer to extend the Tigers’ lead to six points, the Wildcats responded with a relentless stretch of defense and opportunistic offense. The run, which spanned just over four minutes, turned a 41-36 deficit into a 52-43 lead for the visitors and gave them a cushion they would not relinquish.

Bradyn Hubbard, a 6-foot-7 forward from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the catalyst for Abilene Christian, scoring a game-high 22 points. He was instrumental during the pivotal run, drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line, where the Wildcats held a significant advantage all night. Abilene Christian shot 22 of 27 from the stripe, while Texas Southern made 13 of 19.

Guard Rich Smith, from the Bronx, New York, added 14 points and a game-high five assists for the Wildcats, providing steady ball-handling against Texas Southern’s pressure defense. Zy Wright of Lincolnton, Georgia, also chipped in 14 points, including two critical 3-pointers in the second half.

Texas Southern was led by Zytarious Mortle of Alexandria, Louisiana, and Bryce Roberts of Bossier City, Louisiana, who each scored 16 points. Troy Hupstead of Mount Vernon, New York, contributed 12 points. The Tigers excelled in the paint, outscoring Abilene Christian 44-34, and on the fast break, where they held a 15-6 edge. However, their offense stalled during Abilene Christian’s game-changing run, managing only a single field goal over a span of more than five minutes.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. Texas Southern used an 11-2 run late in the period to build its halftime advantage, fueled by Mortle’s slashing drives and a defensive effort that forced eight Wildcats turnovers. Duane Posey of Memphis provided a strong interior presence for the Tigers with two blocks and two steals in the opening half.

Abilene Christian’s second-half adjustment was clear: protect the ball and attack the rim. After committing 13 turnovers in the first half, the Wildcats had just five in the second. Their offensive efficiency improved markedly, scoring 42 points on just 28 second-half possessions. For the game, Abilene Christian posted an offensive rating of 107.4 points per 100 possessions, outperforming Texas Southern’s 101.5.

The Wildcats also won the battle on the glass, securing six offensive rebounds to the Tigers’ three, which led to key second-chance opportunities. Cade Hornecker, a 7-foot center from Amarillo, Texas, provided a vital interior presence off the bench with seven points, including a crucial three-point play late in the game, and a block.

Texas Southern made several pushes to close the gap in the final minutes, cutting the lead to five points on multiple occasions. Each time, Abilene Christian answered, often from the free-throw line. The Tigers had a chance to trim the deficit to a single possession with under a minute to play, but a missed 3-pointer by Zaire Hayes was followed by Smith securing the defensive rebound and being fouled. He hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to six with eight seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome.

The game drew an announced crowd of 639. Abilene Christian, which covered the pregame spread of -4.5, now looks ahead to its Western Athletic Conference opener at home against Utah Tech on Jan. 1. Texas Southern will host Huston-Tillotson on Dec. 30 before beginning Southwestern Athletic Conference play at Southern on Jan. 3.