RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Tipping off a busy weekend where it will play three games in five days, California Baptist University grabbed a 66-56 win over Concordia University of Irvine. The Lancers – who boasted the ninth-best rebounding margin (9.5) in NCAA Division II coming into Thursday's contest – crushed the glass, out-rebounding the Eagles 47-to-22.
 
The Lancers – who are receiving votes in the latest NABC Coaches' Top 25 Poll – improve to 16-4 on the year, 9-3 in the PacWest. The Eagles drop to 12-9 overall, 6-7 in conference.
 
With the season winding down, each game is crucial with the PacWest title still up in the air. The Lancers currently sit in third place in the conference standings, with Dixie State (first at 11-2) and Azusa Pacific (second at 11-3) each having played at least two more games in the PacWest.
 
Jordan Heading led the Lancers with 16 points, adding three assists and three steals. Cory Lange followed with 15 points (4-for-8) and Kalidou Diouf rounded out the scorers in double figures with 11 points (5-for-12). Diouf grabbed a double-double with 14 boards, while Gabe Taylor finished with 10 rebounds on the night.

"Concordia is really just a tough team," said Coach Rick Croy. "We knew the game would probably be like this. We made a decision, no matter what was going on in the offensive end, this time around we were going to guard them. I think our defense really carried us tonight."

It was a defensive clinic in the opening 18 minutes as neither team could jump out in front by multiple possessions until CBU went on a 12-2 run to take a seven-point lead with just under 90 seconds left before halftime.
 
De'jon Davis (eight points) sparked the run and tied the game for the fifth time at 15-15, Taylor knocked down a deep three to put the Lancers in front. Concordia missed its chances on the other end of the court, allowing CBU to take care of business on offense.
 
Lange gave the Lancers momentum with a deep three off a Heading assist to put the home team up 25-17 at halftime.
 
CUI opened the second half with back-to-back threes to put itself back in the game, 25-23, but Bul Kuol drained a trey to put his team back in front by two possessions, 32-27, and stole the ball away on the next play. It led to a layup from Lange to further create some separation, 34-27.
 
The Eagles pulled within two once again, 37-35, but CBU answered with nine-straight points, including a four-point play from Lange. The graduate student drew a foul as he hit a shot from beyond the arc and rattled in the extra shot to put the Lancers in front by double-digits, 46-35.
 
With five minutes left in the game, CUI managed to slice the margin down to four points, 48-44.
 
Intensity built in the remaining minutes as the Lancers were determined to close out the game. CBU grabbed its double-digit lead back off two free throws from Lange, 57-46.
 
Concordia still battled, pulling within seven, 63-56, and tried to foul to get the ball back, but Heading sank two free throws and Taylor snatched up a defensive board to seal the 66-56 victory for CBU.

"This time of year, you have to defend your home court," said Croy. "We played defense to win tonight. You'd like it to be pretty, take care of the ball and make shots, but at the end of the day, that doesn't matter that much. It's who can get tough, who can stay together and who can win games."
 
The Lancers turn right around to host Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. It's their second of six-straight home games left in the regular season.  

Coach Croy's Post-Game Press Conference (Check out CBU Lancers on Facebook for Cory Lange and Kalidou Diouf's thoughts):

 

Lancers get the 2nd win of the day over Concordia as @cbuMBB takes down the Eagles 66-56 thanks in part to an 11pt / 14 rebound double double performance by Kalidou Diouf. Lancers are back in action at home vs. Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday at 5 & 7pm. #LanceUp

A post shared by cbulancers (@cbulancers) on Feb 1, 2018 at 9:09pm PST