Toppling the Tritons

Saturday, November 18

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

4-0

UC San Diego

1-3

UC San Diego

California Baptist

Photo by: Conner Schuh

11/18/2017 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In a rematch of last year's NCAA Division II West Region semifinal game, No. 14-ranked California Baptist University avenged itself with a 78-73 victory over UC San Diego.

The Lancers remain undefeated at 4-0, while the Tritons drop to 1-3 on the year.

"I'm just really happy for our guys," said Coach Rick Croy on the win. "We prepared for this kind of battle. We've got great respect for UCSD and the way they compete. I'm really proud of the way the guys really dug in at the end, made tough plays offensively and then defensively held our ground when we needed to."

Cory Lange led CBU with his highest points in a Lancer jersey, finishing with 26 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Kalidou Diouf followed with 16 points (6-of-9), while Gabe Taylor chipped in 12 points (3-of-7).

"We're grateful Cory became a Lancer," said Croy of his transfer from former PacWest foe BYU-Hawaii. "He's got great character and plays with a great spirit. He came here to win and a night like tonight is exactly the kind of game he came here for."

Jason Todd continued to move the ball well for the Lancers, dishing out four assists without turning the ball over once. Off the glass, Todd grabbed eight boards to help the Lancers boast a 35-to-29 rebounding margin. Diouf followed with seven rebounds, while Lange snagged six.

UCSD may have scored the first two points, but it was the only time the visitors would lead. Diouf quickly tied the game up off a Todd assist, sparking an 18-1 run to force a Triton timeout, trailing 18-3. Lange scored eight of the 18 points, including two triples at the end of the spurt to put momentum in CBU's favor.

The Tritons managed to chip away at the lead, cutting it all the way down to five points, 38-33, with a minute left in the half, but Jordan Heading banked in a tough shot to close out the frame and put CBU up 40-33 at halftime.

CBU came out looking to build back its upper hand and opened the second half with a layup from Diouf off a Taylor assist, 42-33.

Still, UCSD stayed with the Lancers, not letting the home team build back the double-digit lead until just over halfway through the second half. After a Triton hit a trey, CBU responded with five unanswered points off three points from Diouf and two from Todd to jump in front 61-50.

Heading down the stretch, CBU had to dig deep. UCSD pulled within five, but Diouf laid off a great pass to Taylor under the basket to keep the Lancers up by multiple possessions, 67-60.

"I knew early when we got the big lead that those can be tricky sometimes," said Croy. "I just kept telling the guys that UCSD was going to keep competing and we needed to be ready. We really competed well down the stretch."

In the final minute of action, the Tritons tried to foul back in it, but CBU made its chances at the charity stripe to seal the 78-73 victory.

"I think we've got a good ball club, but you're going to play in a lot of these," said Croy of the grinder. "Our team just keeps getting better. We're still getting to know each other."

The Lancers – who are 64-5 at home under Coach Croy – are back in action on Tuesday, hosting Western New Mexico at 7:00 p.m., before the Ayres Thanksgiving Classic on the Friday and Saturday after the holiday. CBU takes on Missouri S&T on Friday and Saint Martin's on Saturday, both at 7:00 p.m.

"We're grateful for the community that came out," said Croy. "To have that kind of crowd without the students – who have been phenomenal – but the community is a big part of this too."