Lancers Dig Deep in PacWest Opener

Thursday, December 1

San Diego, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

7-0, 1-0PacWest

Point Loma

3-4, 0-1PacWest

California Baptist

Point Loma

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

Lancers Dig Deep in PacWest Opener

12/1/2016 9:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

SAN DIEGO — No. 5-ranked California Baptist University had to dig deep in the final minute of its PacWest opener to defeat Point Loma 68-62 Thursday night.

The Lancers improve to 7-0 and open conference at 1-0 with their seventh-straight win. The Sea Lions drop to 3-4 overall, 0-1 in the PacWest.

Michael Smith led all scorers with 17 points, while Kalidou Diouf posted a double-double on the night with 14 points (5-for-9) and 10 rebounds. Jason Todd chipped in 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting to round out the Lancers in double figures, while Casey Norris and Jordan Heading were just on the cusp with nine points apiece.

Shots weren't falling for CBU early, but the Lancers still jumped out in front 7-4 off a swish three-pointer from Heading, put-back from Diouf and fast break layup from Norris.

Things started shifting in the Lancers' favor halfway through the first, as Marquise Mosley fired off a tough three-pointer and Mason Stuteville knocked down another to spark an 8-0 run. Smith pulled back a jump shot to give CBU some cushion, 17-8.

Todd gave the Lancers' their first double-digit lead of the night, 24-12, draining a three-pointer from the corner after Norris hustled to get the offensive rebound.

Point Loma put a run together, cutting the margin down to four points, 27-23, with less than a minute left before halftime. Heading responded with a deep three and Diouf grabbed a defensive board to put the Lancers up 30-23 at the break.

CBU came out determined to start the second half strong as Diouf posted up under the basket to open the period.

The Sea Lions had other ideas, however, and pulled within one possession, 39-36, after opening the second half shooting at a 71.4 clip.

With just over 15 minutes left on the clock, CBU had plenty of time to take control of the game. Heading forced a turnover and put Smith off on the fast break to give the Lancers some breathing room. Tough defense kept the Sea Lions from getting a shot off in time, allowing Norris to bank in a shot off the glass, 43-36.

Once again, the Sea Lions showed their resilience and cut the margin down to four, 46-42.

Heading down the stretch with a 52-46 lead, Diouf rattled in a fade away jumper to give him team some distance and then Smith went coast-to-coast after snatching up a defensive board. It gave the Lancers back their 10-point lead with three minutes left to play.

The Sea Lions turned on the high press, but couldn't deny the Lancers on the perimeter. Todd drained a three-pointer to keep PLNU at bay, before the home team started to foul to try to slow down the Lancers and get more looks on offense.

In the final minute, Point Loma made things interesting by cutting the score to just one possession, 61-58.

Diouf finished two chances at the line and then Norris kept the Sea Lions from getting a second look on a missed shot, before being sent to the free throw line himself on back-to-back occasions.

The Sea Lions snuck in a layup with less than five seconds on the clock and called a timeout, before stealing the ball away to make it a four-point game, 66-62, with 2.7 seconds remaining in the game.

Smith drew a foul on the in-bound and sank both free throws to secure the 68-62 victory for the Lancers.

CBU turns right around to host rival Azusa Pacific on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.