Sixth-Straight

Thursday, November 19

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

6-0

Cal State East Bay

1-1

Cal State East Bay

California Baptist

Photo by: Conner Schuh

11/19/2015 11:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — When it comes to protecting the Van Dyne Gym, No. 11-ranked California Baptist University does it often and does it well. The Lancers downed Cal State East Bay 84-68 Thursday night heading into a big Thanksgiving week where they'll play three games in five days.

CBU — which also ranks No. 3 according to the D2SIDA Media Poll — improves to 6-0, while the Pioneers fall to 1-1.

Gelaun Wheelwright (9-for-15, 3-for-6 3PT) and Michael Smith (7-for-10) led the charge for the Lancers, each posting 23 points. Taj Spencer was just one point off double figures with nine points (4-for-11) and led CBU with seven rebounds as the home team dominated the glass, 38-23.

Wheelwright made the first two points of the night, but CSUEB kept with CBU for the opening five minutes. Down 7-6, the Lancers went on a 13-2 run to take their first double-digit lead of the night. Spencer laid in his own rebound to start the run with Marquise Mosley getting in on the action on a fade-away jump shot, 10-7.

The Pioneers cut the scoring briefly, putting in two points of their own, but Wheelwright sank back-to-back deep threes, followed by a layup off an assist from Kalidou Diouf. Smith capped the run at 19-9, laying it in the hoop.

Alexander Birketoft finished two shots of the line to give CBU its first 20-point lead, 38-17, and a jump shot from Smith sent the Lancers into halftime with a 42-21 cushion.

Coming out of the break, CSUEB tried to cut away at the margin and whittled it down to 62-48. The Pioneers couldn't seem to break into single-digit territory, however, as CBU built back its 20-point cushion in the next run. Diouf started the run with two shots at the line and Birketoft hit a wide-open three to keep the run going. Smith completed the old-fashioned, three-point play to give his team a 70-48 upper hand with 8:32 left on the clock.

Very much in control heading down the stretch, CBU walked away with the 84-68 victory.

The Lancers get a few days rest before a busy week next week, traveling to UC San Diego on Tuesday, Nov. 24, for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff. CBU then hosts the Ayers Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27 and 28.