Friday, March 10
La Jolla, Calif.
5:00 pm
California Baptist University
vs
San Francisco State
Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez
Lancers Ready For Fourth-Straight Postseason Run
3/9/2017 12:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — For the fourth year in a row, California Baptist University has earned the right to battle for a West Regional title.
The 13th-ranked Lancers start that quest Friday at 5:00 p.m. down in La Jolla, Calif., taking on No. 22-ranked San Francisco State. CBU drew the four seed for the regional, while the Gators picked up their first playoff berth since 1994 as the No. 5 seed.
Ever since CBU became eligible for postseason, the Lancers haven't missed a chance to compete in the playoffs, grabbing their highest finish in 2015 as the regional runner-ups. This year, CBU looks to go further than its gone before and book its ticket to the Elite 8 in Sioux Falls, S.D., held March 22-25.
To do that, however, the Lancers will need to get through the Gators on Friday and then face the winner of No. 1 seed and tournament host UC San Diego and No. 8 seed Dixie State on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tip off time. The last two remaining teams in the regional then square off for the championship on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
As a team, CBU ranks in multiple statistical categories, including eighth in the division in free-throw percentage (78.6), ninth in three-point defense (31.0), 16th in scoring margin (13.4), 17th in rebounding margin (6.9) and 38th in scoring defense (69.3).
Michael Smith – the only Lancer to have competed in all four NCAA postseason tournaments – will look to lead his team to victory. The senior guard has already etched himself in CBU history as the program's all-time leading scorer, but will look to put his team down in the history book with the program's first West Regional title. Smith comes into the tournament averaging 24.5 points per game, ranking fourth in all of the division. He also averages 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Big man Kalidou Diouf continues to be one of the most efficient scorers in all of the division, boasting a 66.5 shooting percentage, which also ranks fourth in all of D-II. The junior averages 16.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, looking to continue to use his size in the post for the Lancers.
Jordan Heading and Jason Todd are two more offensive threats the Lancers have in their arsenal. Heading boasts a 12.6 points per game average, while Todd is just on the brink of double figures with 9.1 points per game. Todd is also a strong presence off the glass, averaging 6.6 boards each outing. Casey Norris will look to lead the team from the point guard position. The senior averages 7.5 points per game, while dishing out 2.5 assists per game. Norris is second on the team in steals, averaging at least one a game, proving he's a thorn in the side of CBU's opposition.
Tickets are available for purchase at RIMAC Arena beginning one hour prior to the start of the first game each day. General admission prices are $10 for adults (18-64) and $5 for seniors (65+) and youth (7-17). CBU students can get in for free by showing their valid CBU ID at the ticket booth.
All seven games can also be followed via live video at UCSDtritons.tv, free of charge. Live stats for each game are also linked on the CBU men's basketball schedule.
NCAA Division II Interactive Bracket
West Region Tournament Central
The 13th-ranked Lancers start that quest Friday at 5:00 p.m. down in La Jolla, Calif., taking on No. 22-ranked San Francisco State. CBU drew the four seed for the regional, while the Gators picked up their first playoff berth since 1994 as the No. 5 seed.
Ever since CBU became eligible for postseason, the Lancers haven't missed a chance to compete in the playoffs, grabbing their highest finish in 2015 as the regional runner-ups. This year, CBU looks to go further than its gone before and book its ticket to the Elite 8 in Sioux Falls, S.D., held March 22-25.
To do that, however, the Lancers will need to get through the Gators on Friday and then face the winner of No. 1 seed and tournament host UC San Diego and No. 8 seed Dixie State on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tip off time. The last two remaining teams in the regional then square off for the championship on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
As a team, CBU ranks in multiple statistical categories, including eighth in the division in free-throw percentage (78.6), ninth in three-point defense (31.0), 16th in scoring margin (13.4), 17th in rebounding margin (6.9) and 38th in scoring defense (69.3).
Michael Smith – the only Lancer to have competed in all four NCAA postseason tournaments – will look to lead his team to victory. The senior guard has already etched himself in CBU history as the program's all-time leading scorer, but will look to put his team down in the history book with the program's first West Regional title. Smith comes into the tournament averaging 24.5 points per game, ranking fourth in all of the division. He also averages 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Big man Kalidou Diouf continues to be one of the most efficient scorers in all of the division, boasting a 66.5 shooting percentage, which also ranks fourth in all of D-II. The junior averages 16.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, looking to continue to use his size in the post for the Lancers.
Jordan Heading and Jason Todd are two more offensive threats the Lancers have in their arsenal. Heading boasts a 12.6 points per game average, while Todd is just on the brink of double figures with 9.1 points per game. Todd is also a strong presence off the glass, averaging 6.6 boards each outing. Casey Norris will look to lead the team from the point guard position. The senior averages 7.5 points per game, while dishing out 2.5 assists per game. Norris is second on the team in steals, averaging at least one a game, proving he's a thorn in the side of CBU's opposition.
Tickets are available for purchase at RIMAC Arena beginning one hour prior to the start of the first game each day. General admission prices are $10 for adults (18-64) and $5 for seniors (65+) and youth (7-17). CBU students can get in for free by showing their valid CBU ID at the ticket booth.
All seven games can also be followed via live video at UCSDtritons.tv, free of charge. Live stats for each game are also linked on the CBU men's basketball schedule.
NCAA Division II Interactive Bracket
West Region Tournament Central
Players Mentioned
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