Starting the Season Strong

Friday, November 11

Riverside, Calif.

4:00 PM

California Baptist University

1-0

101

Montana State-Billings

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Montana St. Billings	27	59	86
California Baptist	50	51	101

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

Starting the Season Strong

11/11/2016 7:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — No. 9-ranked California Baptist University opened its last season in the Van Dyne Gym with an impressive 101-86 victory over Montana State-Billings Friday evening.

The Lancers open the season 1-0 on the year, while the Yellowjackets debut 0-1.

CBU had four – almost five – players finish in double-digit points, led by Michael Smith. The senior guard posted 27 points (7-for-17) and also dished out five assists. Jordan Heading finished with 16 points (6-for-8), while Casey Norris chipped in 13 points. De'jon Davis was just on the outskirts of double figures with nine points in his collegiate debut.

Kalidou Diouf had a monstrous night, scoring a career-high 25 points on 10-for-11 shooting. Defensively, the junior had two blocks and three steals on the night.

The Lancers out-rebounded the 'Jackets 47-to-35, with Davis leading the charge on a career-high 16 boards – the first time since 2012 (Luke Evans) a Lancer had grabbed more than 15 balls off the glass. Smith snagged eight rebounds, while Diouf grabbed six rebounds for CBU.

Both teams exchanged points in the opening minutes of the game before the Lancers went off. Smith sparked a 10-0 run on two of his 13 made free throws, while Diouf, Norris and Jason Todd (7 points, 3-for-7) all got in on the action.

MSUB cut the scoring spree briefly, 24-12, with just under 10 minutes left before halftime, but the Lancers built up a 20-point lead, 32-12, off more free throws from Smith.

The 'Jackets tried to break up the scoring runs for CBU, but couldn't quite contain the home team. Todd scored off a fast-break layup after Bul Kuol stole the ball away and Diouf finished two chances at the charity stripe to threaten a 30-point lead, 42-14.

CBU held a 50-27 margin at halftime after shooting 45.7-percent from the field during the first period. Uncharacteristically, however, the Lancers only had one three in the half.

Things turned around from the perimeter in the second half as CBU made six triples and shot 51.6-percent in the frame.

MSUB also made some improvements in the second half, outscoring the Lancers 59-51 to make things interesting in the final minutes of the game. The 'Jackets went on a 15-4 run to cut CBU's lead all the way to single digits, 95-86, with 1:54 left to play.

Heading snapped the spurt by draining a three from the corner pocket off a Todd assist and Norris capped the scoring with another shot from beyond the arc to seal the 101-86 victory.

The Lancers turn right around to host Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday at 3 p.m. The Toros come off a tight 72-71 win over Holy Names earlier in the day.