RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Just two days after claiming the top spot in the PacWest, No. 8 California Baptist University was dethroned by its rival Azusa Pacific Saturday night. The Cougars managed to upset the Lancers at home, grabbing a 73-71 victory.
 
It's just the second time CBU has lost at home under head coach Rick Croy. The loss moves the Lancers to 15-3 overall and 6-2 in conference. APU improves to 12-3 on the year, 6-1 in the PacWest.
 
Michael Smith finished with a game-high 28 points (11-for-20) and was just one rebound shy of a double-double. Gelaun Wheelwright followed with 12 points, while Jordan Giusti scored 10 points.
 
Taj Spencer led CBU with 10 rebounds, helping the Lancers outrebound the Cougars 44-to-37, but needed just one more point to post a double-double on the night.
 
Neither team could establish itself early on as the score was tied three times and the lead changed six times in the first half.
 
CBU took its first significant lead with five minutes left before halftime. After APU cut the margin to four points, 27-23, Smith drew a foul as he drove to the basket and finished his extra shot to complete the old-fashioned, three-point play.
 
Trevone Williams hit both his chances at the charity stripe with less than 20 seconds left in the first half, but the Cougars just got off a shot in time, putting the score at 36-33 in favor of CBU at halftime.
 
The Lancers opened the second frame on a 6-0 run to threaten a double-digit lead just two minutes in. Smith got things started on a fast break after Wheelwright stole the ball away and put his team into the attack. Giusti followed with a jump shot in the paint and Kalidou Diouf capped the run off an assist from Wheelwright.
 
APU regrouped and chipped away at the Lancers' margin, even taking back the upper hand at 44-42. Smith responded as Diouf found him open in the paint to tie things up at 44-44.
 
Down 53-52, Spencer evened the score line for the fifth time of the game by hitting the first of two free throws. He missed the second but Alexander Birketoft snatched up the offensive board and laid it in to give his team back the lead, 55-53.
 
The score would tie four more times in the remaining nine minutes, with the last one occurring with less than a minute on the clock. Smith drew a foul and hit both his chances at the charity stripe to even the score at 70-70 and then give CBU a one-point lead, 71-70.
 
It was the last time the Lancers would score, however, as the Cougars took the game 73-71.
 
The Lancers head to Hawaii for a three-game swing on two islands next week, needing to regain their footing on the road. CBU first takes on Hawaii Pacific and BYU-Hawaii on Thursday and Friday on Oahu, before jumping over to the Big Island for a matchup at Hawaii-Hilo on Monday, Jan. 25.