Mental Warfare

Saturday, January 24

San Diego, CA

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

15-2,9-1PacWest

Point Loma

13-5,6-5PacWest

Cal Baptist

Point Loma

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

1/24/2015 8:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Coming off a disappointing loss, No. 10-ranked California Baptist University looked to bounce back Saturday night, but a tough Point Loma squad stood in its way. Head coach Rick Croy knew it would be a game of mental warfare and needed his guys to be willing to do whatever it took to withstand the test. A test it was as the Lancers overcame a 12-point deficit to beat the Sea Lions 69-65 in an intense showdown.

CBU improves to 15-2 on the season and 9-1 in the PacWest, while PLNU falls to 13-5, 6-5.

Two Lancers finished the night in double-digits, led by Michael Smith with 17 points (5-for-9). Taj Spencer followed with 16 points (7-for-10), while Gelaun Wheelwright and Ryan Berg were just shy of double figures at nine points apiece.

After opening the game with the first five points of the night, CBU found itself trailing by 10 in the first half.

Down 33-21, the Lancers found their rhythm and went on a 7-0 run, initiated by Spencer's layup. Wheelwright followed by driving to the basket and drawing a foul, before Eric Nelson's dunk put CBU within five at 33-28.

Point Loma ended the scoring spree briefly, but CBU finished the first half by scoring four unanswered points. Smith grabbed an offensive board and tipped it in to start the run before the Sea Lions turned over the ball. With just six seconds on the clock, the Lancers looked like they might go into the locker room down by five, but Nelson slammed it in to give CBU energy heading into the break and just three points to overcome, 39-36.

The Lancers came out and carried over momentum to keep the run going, extending it to seven-straight points to take the lead 40-39. It didn't last long, however, as the Sea Lions took it back and tried to keep CBU at bay.

Each time CBU looked to start a run, Point Loma responded with a three to stay in front.

Eric Hunt hit a shot of his own from beyond the arc, putting the score at 61-57 as the two teams battled down the stretch. Smith followed with another three, bringing the Lancers within reach at 61-60.

Berg kept the drive alive, battling to the basket to lay it in and put the Lancers in front once more at 62-61. Back on defense, Chris Brown took a charge to put CBU back on offense and spark the bench.

Proving to be just like the first matchup between the two teams, it came down to the wire once again as both teams tried to close out the game. Brown gave the Lancers a huge three-pointer to put CBU up 67-63 with 1:20 to play.

PLNU's Judd Welfringer gave CBU a scare as he sent an arched attempt from the corner for the lead, but it rattled off the rim and out of bounds to give the Lancers back the ball. Berg finished a free throw and Spencer made a crucial block to keep the Sea Lions out of the bucket.

Berg put the Sea Lions in desperation mode as he finished a free throw to give CBU a four-point lead and not enough time for PLNU to get two possessions off as the Lancers took the game.

CBU continues on the road for three more games, heading to the Hawaiian Islands before returning to Van Dyne Gym on Feb. 7 to host rival Azusa Pacific at 7:00 p.m.