Storm Troopers

Saturday, February 6

St. George, Utah

6:30 PM

California Baptist University

9-518-6/ PacWest

Dixie State

8-511-8/ PacWest

OT 1

California Baptist

Dixie State

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

2/6/2016 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Even if games haven't gone the way California Baptist University has wanted them to, the Lancers continue to battle until the final whistle. Saturday night was the same as the Lancers fought back from a 19-point deficit to take it down to the wire with Dixie State.

Unfortunately for the Lancers, the outcome didn't go in their favor once again as the Red Storm held on for a 94-88 overtime victory. The loss drops CBU to 18-6 on the year, 9-5 in the PacWest, while DSU improves to 11-8, 8-5 in conference.

Michael Smith had a big night for the Lancers, finishing with 28 points (7-for-17) — just two points shy of tying his career high. Gelaun Wheelwright chipped in 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the charity stripe. Big men Kalidou Diouf (6-for-8) and Taj Spencer (5-for-9) rounded out the scorers in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Spencer added 13 rebounds for the double-double.

Dixie State opened the game throwing the first punch, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes. Shots weren't falling for CBU as the Red Storm extended that margin to 19 points, but the Lancers didn't worry. They knew there was still plenty of time left to play.

Just before halftime, Giusti stole the ball away and found a lane to drive to the basket. He was fouled in the process, but he hit one of his free throws to put the Lancers down 41-29 at halftime.

The Lancers looked to turn things around in the second half and got DSU looking out of sorts. Just six minutes into the second half, Smith banked in a shot off the backboard to put his team within single-digits, 47-39.

Spencer kept momentum working for the Lancers, putting the ball up and in to make it 51-45. Smith's two shots at the line brought CBU within four points and Gelaun Wheelwright drained a three-pointer to make it even closer, 53-52. The run kept going for CBU as Giusti drew a foul and sank both his shots from the charity stripe to tie the game and then give the Lancers their first lead of the night.

A battle ensued the remaining 11 minutes as neither team was ready to give up on the fight.

Wheelwright hit a huge three from the corner to give CBU a one-point lead, 73-72, before Marquise Mosley found a lane to make it a three-point game.

Still, Dixie State hung with the visitors and tied it up with about 45 seconds remaining. Kalidou Diouf grabbed a put-back basket and drew a foul to once again put the Lancers up by three, but the Red Storm forced overtime in dramatic fashion, hitting a deep three to even the score at 75-75.

For the first time this season, CBU faced overtime. The Lancers fell into a five-point deficit early in the extra time, but responded with an 8-0 spurt to take back the lead.

Smith hit two free throws to tie the game at 82-82 and Trevone Williams stole the ball away to put the Lancers back on the attack. Alexander Birketoft sank a three to put his team up by three with just about a minute remaining.

Dixie State got a break as the shots didn't fall for CBU in the final seconds of the game. The Lancers sent the Red Storm to the line, trying to get the ball back, but DSU hit four free throws to take a 92-85 lead with 11 seconds remaining.

Smith closed out the game with three shots at the charity stripe, but it wasn't enough to force more time as the Lancers fall 94-88.

CBU returns to Van Dyne to close out the home campaign with two games. The Lancers host Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday and Concordia (Calif.) on Monday, both with a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.