Smooth As Glass

Monday, January 30

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

Hawaii-Hilo

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

1/30/2017 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In the middle of a four-games-in-eight-days stretch, fourth-ranked California Baptist University didn't look tired as it exploded out to a 97-56 victory Monday night, out-rebounding the Vulcans 44-to-23.

The Lancers improve to 20-1 overall, 12-1 in the PacWest, and extend their unbeaten streak to 12-straight games – just four shy of tying the program record. The Vulcans drop to 6-12 on the year, 4-8 in conference.

Michael Smith – who had 20 points by halftime – led the Lancers with 27 points (10-for-14). Kalidou Diouf also had double-digit points by halftime (11) and went on to finish with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Casey Norris rounded out the trio in double figures with 14 points. Jason Todd was just one point shy of joining the club, finishing with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting.

The Lancers crushed the glass with Smith leading the charge. The senior grabbed nine boards on the night, just one shy of a double-double. Diouf and De'jon Davis followed with seven apiece, while Danny King snagged a career-high six rebounds.

CBU jumped out to a 6-0 lead early off a shot from beyond the arc from Jason Todd and an old-fashioned three-point play from Diouf.

That turned into a 17-2 upper hand as the Lancers scored 11-straight points after UHH managed to grab a basket. Smith capped the spurt by bouncing in an uncontested shot from the perimeter.

CBU threatened a 20-point lead with under eight minutes left before halftime, 27-9, as Smith knocked down two chances at the charity stripe.

The Vulcans managed to cut the margin down briefly, but the Lancers got their 20-point lead, 37-17, as Diouf scored three-straight points – on a put-back and finishing a free throw after drawing a flagrant foul – and Smith laid it in off the backboard.

Norris gave the Lancers extra momentum heading into the locker room at halftime, sinking a deep three just before the first period expired to put his team up 51-31.

It was back-and-forth action in the beginning as UHH tried to claw its way back into the game, but the Lancers weren't having it.

CBU kept pushing and soon turned its 20-point lead into a 30-point upper hand. With just about eight minutes remaining, Smith found a lane and drove in two points. Diouf followed with a jumper and Norris knocked down a triple to further distance the Lancers from the Vulcans, 80-44.

UHH didn't roll over, trying to battle back into the contest, but it was a little too late as CBU closed out the final five minutes with solid defense to secure the 97-56 victory.

There's no rest for the weary as CBU hosts seventh-ranked Hawai'i Pacific on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip off, broadcast live on Fox Sports West. Both teams are battling for first place on the PacWest leader board, with the Lancers holding a half-game advantage over the Sharks (11-1 in conference).