Photo by: Sammi Wellman
Fearless.
11/8/2018 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Men's basketball opens the NCAA DI era on Friday night at the CBU Events Center
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Coming off a banner year, California Baptist University looks to carry momentum over into a new challenge: its first year of NCAA Division I and Western Athletic Conference action.
Last year, the Lancers finished the year 28-6 with their first-ever West Region Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. While CBU loses three of its starters from last year's squad, the Lancers return five letterwinners and welcome some new talent that Coach Rick Croy is expecting to contribute right away.
"We have a really good chemistry and a group who loves to compete," Croy said. "They enjoy being around each other and we have strong leadership. That's something that we wanted to make sure we were good in year one of this transition. Our program has been marked by really strong leadership in our DII run. We have had a tremendous run of really strong senior leadership. Jordan Heading is ready for that role and has stepped into it nicely."
Each year, the Lancers' senior group picks a mantra for the year. As the only senior, Heading went with "fearless."
"Fearless to us is all about playing for the brotherhood and family that is CBU basketball," said Heading. "We trust in the work that we have all put in together and we feel that no matter who we match up against, we have the upper hand thanks to our daily work. Fearless is confidently stepping into any battle knowing that your brothers have your back and will stand with you no matter what goes down."
Heading has demonstrated that sense of fearlessness throughout his time as a Lancer, helping lead CBU to boast the best winning percentage over the last five years out of any NCAA Division II West Region team with a .819 (132-29) and the longest postseason streak in the West Region after qualifying for the tournament all five years the Lancers were eligible.
Last year, Heading finished with 14.3 points, 4.8 assists and 30.4 minutes per game averages, while shooting .430-percent from the floor and .346-percent from beyond the arc. He went on to earn all-conference honors.
Also returning from last year and hoping to be impact players are Bul Kuol and De'jon Davis. Kuol started 32 of last year's 34 games, averaging 6.7 points (on a .461 field-goal percentage) and 2.9 rebounds per game. Davis played in all 34 games and was a big presence off the glass, grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game to go along with 8.2 ppg.
After utilizing redshirt seasons, Zach Pirog and Mike Henn will look to step right in, with both bringing Division I experience.
Pirog – a transfer from Nebraska-Omaha – averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game with the Mavericks, shooting with a .585 field-goal percentage. He also brings height to the CBU roster, measuring in at 6-foot-11 with over a 7-foot-2-inch reach.
Henn – a transfer from UC Davis – averaged 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game with the Aggies. He helped the Aggies win the Big West Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, where UC Davis beat North Carolina Central in the round of 64.
New to the mix this year are two transfers, who will likely play a lot of minutes, and a freshman big man making his collegiate debut.
Milan Acquaah is eligible to play right away after transferring from Washington State and has already been impressive on the court. Last year, Acquaah averaged 1.9 assists and 4.9 points in 17.5 minutes per game with the Cougars.
Jeremy Smith, who finished a stellar career at Citrus College last year, also provides some offensive prowess to the Lancers' arsenal. He became the Owls' all-time leading scorer (1,182) and assister (303) in just two years, while last year averaging 21.6 points and 5.4 assists per game.
Glenn Morison provides more height for the Lancers, measuring in at 6-foot-10-inches. The freshman from Canberra, ACT, Australia, brings international experience after representing ACT all through high school. He was the captain of the 2018 ACT U20 Men's Team where he averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game and was named to the SSSA All-Australia Team in 2017. Morison averaged over 10 points and five rebounds per game during the SEABL season in 2017, where he was the SEABL Youth Player of the Year second runner up.
The Lancers begin the new challenge on Friday as they host San Diego Christian for a 7 p.m. tip off in the CBU Events Center. CBU has an impressive home record, with a 79-7 mark over the past five seasons, including a 19-2 record in the Events Center.
"Some might say that there is pressure for our team as we are the first team to open up the future of CBU men's basketball in the world of Division I," said Heading. "We are excited for the challenges ahead and as the competition heightens, we are choosing to take on the unknown with a fierce mindset. We are not afraid in any way of anything that comes with being Division I, we are prepared and we are fearless."
Last year, the Lancers finished the year 28-6 with their first-ever West Region Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. While CBU loses three of its starters from last year's squad, the Lancers return five letterwinners and welcome some new talent that Coach Rick Croy is expecting to contribute right away.
"We have a really good chemistry and a group who loves to compete," Croy said. "They enjoy being around each other and we have strong leadership. That's something that we wanted to make sure we were good in year one of this transition. Our program has been marked by really strong leadership in our DII run. We have had a tremendous run of really strong senior leadership. Jordan Heading is ready for that role and has stepped into it nicely."
Each year, the Lancers' senior group picks a mantra for the year. As the only senior, Heading went with "fearless."
"Fearless to us is all about playing for the brotherhood and family that is CBU basketball," said Heading. "We trust in the work that we have all put in together and we feel that no matter who we match up against, we have the upper hand thanks to our daily work. Fearless is confidently stepping into any battle knowing that your brothers have your back and will stand with you no matter what goes down."
Heading has demonstrated that sense of fearlessness throughout his time as a Lancer, helping lead CBU to boast the best winning percentage over the last five years out of any NCAA Division II West Region team with a .819 (132-29) and the longest postseason streak in the West Region after qualifying for the tournament all five years the Lancers were eligible.
Last year, Heading finished with 14.3 points, 4.8 assists and 30.4 minutes per game averages, while shooting .430-percent from the floor and .346-percent from beyond the arc. He went on to earn all-conference honors.
Also returning from last year and hoping to be impact players are Bul Kuol and De'jon Davis. Kuol started 32 of last year's 34 games, averaging 6.7 points (on a .461 field-goal percentage) and 2.9 rebounds per game. Davis played in all 34 games and was a big presence off the glass, grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game to go along with 8.2 ppg.
After utilizing redshirt seasons, Zach Pirog and Mike Henn will look to step right in, with both bringing Division I experience.
Pirog – a transfer from Nebraska-Omaha – averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game with the Mavericks, shooting with a .585 field-goal percentage. He also brings height to the CBU roster, measuring in at 6-foot-11 with over a 7-foot-2-inch reach.
Henn – a transfer from UC Davis – averaged 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game with the Aggies. He helped the Aggies win the Big West Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, where UC Davis beat North Carolina Central in the round of 64.
New to the mix this year are two transfers, who will likely play a lot of minutes, and a freshman big man making his collegiate debut.
Milan Acquaah is eligible to play right away after transferring from Washington State and has already been impressive on the court. Last year, Acquaah averaged 1.9 assists and 4.9 points in 17.5 minutes per game with the Cougars.
Jeremy Smith, who finished a stellar career at Citrus College last year, also provides some offensive prowess to the Lancers' arsenal. He became the Owls' all-time leading scorer (1,182) and assister (303) in just two years, while last year averaging 21.6 points and 5.4 assists per game.
Glenn Morison provides more height for the Lancers, measuring in at 6-foot-10-inches. The freshman from Canberra, ACT, Australia, brings international experience after representing ACT all through high school. He was the captain of the 2018 ACT U20 Men's Team where he averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game and was named to the SSSA All-Australia Team in 2017. Morison averaged over 10 points and five rebounds per game during the SEABL season in 2017, where he was the SEABL Youth Player of the Year second runner up.
The Lancers begin the new challenge on Friday as they host San Diego Christian for a 7 p.m. tip off in the CBU Events Center. CBU has an impressive home record, with a 79-7 mark over the past five seasons, including a 19-2 record in the Events Center.
"Some might say that there is pressure for our team as we are the first team to open up the future of CBU men's basketball in the world of Division I," said Heading. "We are excited for the challenges ahead and as the competition heightens, we are choosing to take on the unknown with a fierce mindset. We are not afraid in any way of anything that comes with being Division I, we are prepared and we are fearless."
Midnight Madness was 🔥🔥🔥
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 3, 2018
Can't wait for the home opener on Friday night! #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/vr9PrdKK64
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