Keeping the Penguins at Bay

Saturday, January 21

San Rafael, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

17-1, 9-1PacWest

Dominican

5-13, 4-8PacWest

California Baptist

Dominican University of California

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

Keeping the Penguins at Bay

1/21/2017 11:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — No. 5-ranked California Baptist University dug deep to beat Dominican University of California 86-72 on the road Saturday night.

The Lancers improve to 17-1 overall and 9-1 in the PacWest, half a game behind Hawai'i Pacific, which sits in first with a 10-1 conference mark. The Penguins drop to 5-13 on the year, 4-8 in conference.

Michael Smith – who has yet to score under 13 points this year – led the team with 30 points (10-for-19), his seventh-straight game of scoring more than 20 points. Jason Todd followed with a career-high 18 points (5-for-9) and was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Kalidou Diouf added another 12 points on perfect shooting from the floor and free-throw line, while Jordan Heading chipped in 11 points (4-for-9).

It was a close battle for the first 10 minutes, with neither team being able to create some separation from its opponent.

Trailing 20-17, CBU responded with a 7-0 run to take over the lead. Smith scored the first five points of the scoring spree, before De'jon Davis hit two free throws to give the Lancers a 24-20 lead.

There was more seesaw action as the lead changed two more times and tied one more time before halftime. It was CBU, however, who would hold the upper hand at the break, boasting a 40-35 lead.

CBU came out fired up to start the second half and opened on a 5-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the night, 45-35.

Dominican tried to keep the Lancers from grabbing too much momentum early and took over the lead, 47-45, four minutes into the game.

Smith tipped in a missed shot to keep things even, 47-47, just seconds later, however. It sparked a 7-0 run as Marquise Mosley and Heading got in on the action to give CBU back the lead, 52-47.

The Penguins kept coming, but the Lancers were not about to let up their lead.

With less than 10 minutes left, Todd hit both chances of his one-and-one opportunity to put CBU back up by 10 points, 65-55.

After the Penguins cut within two possessions, 69-63, with four and a half minutes to go, Casey Norris rattled in a three to keep Dominican at bay. Todd gave the Lancers extra breathing room by slamming home a dunk with 40 seconds to go, putting his team in front 80-67.

Dominican tried to battle back in the final seconds, but CBU got its stops to secure the 86-72 victory.

The Lancers continue their trip up north, heading to Fresno Pacific for a Monday tip at 7:30 p.m.