LA JOLLA, Calif. — For the second time in two years, California Baptist University drew UC San Diego in the second round of the NCAA Division II West Regional. Just like it did last year, it came down to the wire, but the Tritons managed to hold off the Lancers for an 84-80 result.  
 
The 13^th-ranked Lancers end their season with a 26-5 record, while the No. 19-ranked Tritons move on to the West Regional championship game Monday with a 27-5 overall mark.
 
"We competed well," said Coach Rick Croy. "When things got tough, we came together, like we've done all year. It's tough right now. UCSD played to its strengths and we just got couldn't get the stops we needed."
 
Earlier this year, CBU and UCSD squared off in Riverside, with Michael Smith going off with a career-high 42 points. The Tritons had a hard time containing the Lancers' all-time leading scorer once again as Smith put his team on his back and finished with 39 points (11-for-18). Smith was named to the all-tournament team following the conclusion of the West Regional.
 
"I'm just so blessed to have been here for four years," said Smith of his time at CBU. "Being able to grow as a player, teammate, brother, man. The things that Coach Croy and the coaching staff have done for me are remarkable. There's not enough that I can do to thank them.
 
"I just wanted to win so bad. I'm just blessed to have been able to be here and be a part of this team."
 
While the result wasn't what the senior guard was hoping for, Smith has nothing to hang his head on, finishing with 2,031 career points – the first Lancer to ever break the 2,000-point mark.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of [Michael]," added Croy. "He's a legacy, a really special player. I haven't seen anyone do it better than Mike has from start to finish as a player, as a leader, as a man. Watching him grow in our program is what it's all about. He's made CBU better and CBU has made him better. I'm going to really miss competing with him. He's a special player."
 
Kalidou Diouf and Marquise Mosley each chipped in 12 points, while Jordan Heading was right behind them with nine on 3-for-5 shooting.   
 
After some back-and-forth action to open the game, UCSD took a five-point lead at the first media timeout. Mosley came out of the break and drew a foul as he was making his way to the basket, sinking both free throws to put his team back within a possession, 13-10.
 
The Tritons took advantage of the Lancers' missed shots, building up a 25-14 cushion with seven minutes left in the first.
 
Heading cut through the distance, however, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to pull CBU within five, 25-20.
 
UCSD tried to get some more separation, but the Lancers were just heating up. With just about a minute and a half left in the half, Smith fired off a deep triple to put his team within two. The Tritons hit a free throw, but it didn't stop Smith's flow as he closed out the final 90 seconds of the half on an 8-1 run to put CBU in front 38-36 at halftime.
 
A battle ensued in the second half as neither team was willing to let its counterpart get too much momentum. UCSD jumped in front by four, 53-49, but Smith hit two chances at the line to keep it close.
 
Heading down the stretch trailing 71-64, Diouf denied the Tritons from getting any further out in front, swatting away a layup attempt before finishing two chances at the line to keep the Lancers within reach.
 
UCSD built up a nine-point lead with two minutes remaining on the clock, but the Lancers continued to compete, as Heading drained a three and CBU called a timeout.
 
Smith put the Lancers within four as the clock hit the minute mark, before firing off a trey to make it a one-point game, 79-78, putting it down to the wire for the second year in a row.
 
Once again, however, it didn't go in CBU's favor as UCSD took the game 84-80.
 
"Our mantra on the year was to 'lead by example,' which came from one of our coaches' moms who passed away this past summer," said Croy. "Our guys did that better than any other team I've been around, from start to finish.
 
"It was an honor to coach these guys. They represented CBU really well."