Thursday, February 2
Riverside, Calif.
7:00 PM
California Baptist University
vs
Hawaii Pacific
Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez
Fox Sports West to Feature Ranked Showdown
1/31/2017 11:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Thursday night in the Van Dyne Gym is bound to be full of excitement.
Not only does it pin two of the top teams in the nation up against each other – fighting for what could come down to the PacWest Championship – it will also be broadcast live on Fox Sports West as fourth-ranked California Baptist University hosts No. 6-ranked Hawai'i Pacific for a 7 p.m. tip off.
The Lancers come into the matchup coasting on a 12-game winning streak and hold a half-game advantage over the Sharks in the PacWest standings at 20-1, 12-1 in conference. Of those 12 wins, one was in Shark territory as CBU beat then 18th-ranked HPU 80-70 out in Hawaii.
When it comes to the Van Dyne Gym, CBU knows how to defend it well. The Lancers boast a 59-3 record at home since head coach Rick Croy took over the helm in 2013.
CBU also ranks in multiple statistical categories in the NCAA, including first in free-throw percentage (80.6), fourth in three-point field goal defense, 12th in scoring margin (15.9), 21st in rebounding margin (7.0), 32nd in scoring defense (68.6 ppg), 41st in field-goal percentage (48.5) and 47th in scoring offense (84.4 ppg).
All-time leading scorer Michael Smith leads the charge for the Lancers, averaging 24.4 ppg. It puts him fifth overall in all of NCAA Division II. Kalidou Diouf leads the nation in field-goal percentage, boasting an impressive 70.6-percent from the field – the only player to shoot over 70-percent from the field.
Since HPU (19-1, 11-1 PacWest) dropped the game to the Lancers back on Jan. 3, the Sharks haven't lost another game and come into Thursday with a seven-game winning streak. It's meant HPU has climbed from No. 18 all the way up to No. 6 in this week's NABC/Division II rankings, released earlier today.
The Sharks also rank in statistical categories, including leading the division in rebounding margin (12.3) and scoring margin (24.0). HPU also ranks second in field-goal percentage defense (holding teams to a 38.2-percent shooting), 11th in scoring defense (65.3), 13th in scoring offense (89.3), 15th in field-goal percentage (50.5) and 21st in steals per game (8.9).
Not only does it pin two of the top teams in the nation up against each other – fighting for what could come down to the PacWest Championship – it will also be broadcast live on Fox Sports West as fourth-ranked California Baptist University hosts No. 6-ranked Hawai'i Pacific for a 7 p.m. tip off.
The Lancers come into the matchup coasting on a 12-game winning streak and hold a half-game advantage over the Sharks in the PacWest standings at 20-1, 12-1 in conference. Of those 12 wins, one was in Shark territory as CBU beat then 18th-ranked HPU 80-70 out in Hawaii.
When it comes to the Van Dyne Gym, CBU knows how to defend it well. The Lancers boast a 59-3 record at home since head coach Rick Croy took over the helm in 2013.
CBU also ranks in multiple statistical categories in the NCAA, including first in free-throw percentage (80.6), fourth in three-point field goal defense, 12th in scoring margin (15.9), 21st in rebounding margin (7.0), 32nd in scoring defense (68.6 ppg), 41st in field-goal percentage (48.5) and 47th in scoring offense (84.4 ppg).
All-time leading scorer Michael Smith leads the charge for the Lancers, averaging 24.4 ppg. It puts him fifth overall in all of NCAA Division II. Kalidou Diouf leads the nation in field-goal percentage, boasting an impressive 70.6-percent from the field – the only player to shoot over 70-percent from the field.
Since HPU (19-1, 11-1 PacWest) dropped the game to the Lancers back on Jan. 3, the Sharks haven't lost another game and come into Thursday with a seven-game winning streak. It's meant HPU has climbed from No. 18 all the way up to No. 6 in this week's NABC/Division II rankings, released earlier today.
The Sharks also rank in statistical categories, including leading the division in rebounding margin (12.3) and scoring margin (24.0). HPU also ranks second in field-goal percentage defense (holding teams to a 38.2-percent shooting), 11th in scoring defense (65.3), 13th in scoring offense (89.3), 15th in field-goal percentage (50.5) and 21st in steals per game (8.9).
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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