Sharks' Streak Snapped

Tuesday, January 3

Honolulu, Hawaii

8:30 PM

California Baptist University

12-1,4-1PacWest

Hawaii Pacific

12-1,4-1PacWest

California Baptist

Hawai'i Pacific

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

1/3/2017 11:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

HONOLULU – No. 7-ranked California Baptist University opened the new year with its second ranked opponent of the season, taking on undefeated No. 18 Hawai'i Pacific. As most ranked matchups go, Tuesday's was full of excitement but it was the Lancers who came out victorious with an 80-70 win over the Sharks.

CBU improves to 12-1 on the year, 4-1 in the PacWest, while snapping HPU's undefeated streak. The Sharks drop to an identical 12-1, 4-1 in conference with their first loss of the year.

Michael Smith led the Lancers with 28 points (10-for-21) and grabbed 10 rebounds for the double-double. Jordan Heading followed with 20 points, tying his career high on 6-of-10 shooting. Kalidou Diouf rounded out the CBU hoopsters in double figures with 12 points, while also dishing out four assists.

CBU out-rebounded the Sharks 39-to-27, with Jason Todd grabbing eight on the night and Casey Norris adding another seven boards.

The Lancers got the ball rolling with the first five points of the night off a three-pointer from Todd and a layup from Smith.

HPU kept it close, however, and even took over the lead at 11-8. CBU remained poised and not only grabbed its lead back, but created some distance in the final five minutes of the half. With a 33-29 upper hand, four-straight points from Heading and a put-back from Smith gave the Lancers their first double-digit cushion of the night, 39-29.

CBU walked into halftime with a 43-34 upper hand and came out in the second half looking to keep the intensity up.

HPU had other ideas, however, and slowly clawed its way back into the game. The Sharks took the lead, 60-58, with less than eight minutes to go, but CBU got back-to-back stops to put an 8-0 run together and take back momentum with a 66-60 cushion.

It would come down to the wire, as the Lancers held a five-point margin, 68-63, heading down the stretch.

The two teams exchanged triples to keep it tight, before Diouf snatched up an offensive board and tucked in the fade away jumper with ease to put CBU up by eight, 76-68.

Smith snatched up a strong defensive rebound to keep the Sharks from getting a second chance off the glass and put his team back on the attack. Heading followed with two chances at the line to give the Lancers back their 10-point lead with only two minutes left on the clock.

HPU turned on the full-court press, but couldn't take advantage of the extra pressure. The Lancers took their time on their possession, just getting shots off before the shot clock expired and then crashed the board to reset the clock.

With less than 30 seconds to play, the Sharks resulted to fouling to try to stop the clock and get the ball back, but Norris finished his chances at the charity stripe to seal the 80-70 victory.

The Lancers have one more game in Hawai'i, taking on Chaminade on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. PDT.