Heading Into Conference

Thursday, December 3

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

9-1, 1-0PWC

Dixie State

3-4, 0-1PWC

Dixie State

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

12/3/2015 9:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Despite arguably the toughest PacWest opening slate, facing the two reigning co-conference champions right out the gate, No. 10-ranked California Baptist University came out fired up Thursday night. The Lancers defended their house strong, grabbing an 88-77 victory over Dixie State.

The win moves the Lancers to 9-1 overall, 1-0 to open PacWest play and 36-1 at home since the 2013-14 season. The Red Storm fall to 3-4 on the year and 0-1 in conference with the loss.

Gelaun Wheelwright led all scorers with 21 points on the night (6-for-12). Jordan Heading had a career night, scoring 20 points off 8-for-11 shooting. Taj Spencer chipped in 14 points (6-for-9). Jordan Giusti dished out a staggering nine assists to help CBU shoot 51.7-percent from the field.

Dixie State came out looking to take it to the Lancers and opened with a 5-0 run, but the Lancers found their rhythm about halfway through the first half. Down 22-16, Heading hit two three-pointers in a span of a minute and a half and Kalidou Diouf drove to the basket to give CBU a 24-22 lead.

Wheelwright gave the Lancers their first double-digit lead of the night, helping fuel a six-point run on four free throws and a layup, putting CBU in front 40-30 with four minutes left in the half. Dixie State tried to chip away at the margin, but found itself trailing 46-39 at the break.

CBU quickly built back its double-digit lead in the second half as Giusti sank a three off an assist from Diouf to put the home team up 51-41 two minutes into the frame.

The Red Storm responded by cutting the margin in half to 53-48, but Wheelwright completed an old-fashioned three-point play before hitting a deep three to put the Lancers back in the driver's seat and up by 11 points. Alexander Birketoft kept the run going by laying it in off the glass, giving CBU a 61-48 lead.

DSU tried to contain the Lancers, but Spencer bookended an 8-0 run to put CBU up by 20 points, 74-54. The senior forward showed his strength at the post and then a free throw from Michael Smith and a three-pointer from Heading put the Lancers teetering on the edge of a 20-point margin at 72-54. Spencer put them over the edge, once again laying in two points off an assist from Smith.

Heading down the stretch, the Red Storm managed to cut the score within 12, but Marquise Mosley hit a free throw to keep the Lancers up by double-digits. Heading then sealed the 88-77 victory as he snagged the last rebound of the night to keep the Red Storm off the glass.

There isn't much rest for the weary as the Lancers continue a tough PacWest opening slate, heading to rival Azusa Pacific on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.