California Baptist University
3-4,0-0WAC
South Dakota
6-1,0-0Summit League
Acquaah Leads The Charge Against Coyotes
11/27/2019 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University closed out the Thanksgiving Feast Week with a game against South Dakota on Wednesday, as junior guard Milan Acquaah posted a career night.
Acquaah, who entered the 2019-20 season as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, finished with a career-high 37 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in his 36 minutes of action. He breaks his previous career-high of 36 points, which he set in the Lancers' 82-76 victory over New Mexico State on Jan. 3, 2019. It also breaks the single-game CBU Events Center record for points in the men's basketball program.
Acquaah is four points away from his career-high after this three! He's up to 32 on the night! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/K6hxElNhL4
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 28, 2019
South Dakota came into the contest leading the NCAA in 3-point percentage after starting its 5-1 season with a 51 percent clip. USD was red hot in the first half shooting 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, but the Lancers held them without a three in the second half (0-5). The Coyotes still hold the best mark in the NCAA at 48.10 percent from deep.
The Lancers move to 3-4 on the season, while the Coyotes improve to 6-1. CBU will continue its homestand on Dec. 4 when the Lancers host UC Riverside for the Crosstown Showdown. Last season, the Lancers made the 8.3-mile trip to take down the Highlanders, 80-70.
USD had everything going its way in the first half, as the Coyotes jumped out to a six-point lead in the first five minutes. South Dakota finished the first half shooting 64.7 percent from the field (22-34) and 50 percent from the 3-point line (6-12). The Lancers couldn't quite find a rhythm in the first half, as the home team shot 40.7 percent from the field (11-27) and 20 percent from deep (2-10).
The Coyotes took an 18 point lead into the half, 50-32.
After the break, the Lancers came out with a vengeance and cut the deficit to single digits at the 16:39 mark. It all started with an Acquaah three on the first possession of the second half.
Get us going! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/KLgzRVQQZD
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 28, 2019
The Acquaah three jumpstarted the Lancers, who went on a 13-4 run with an and-one from De'jon Davis and big threes from Acquaah and Ferron Flavors Jr.
Flavors for THREEEEE 🍨
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 28, 2019
Lancers on a 9-2 run to start the second half! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/mFtBQJaQGE
South Dakota would respond, though, pushing its lead back up to 11, 58-47, at the 14:45 mark. The resilient Lancers refused to go away, forcing the first tie of the game after three straight threes by Acquaah, Flavors, and Ty Rowell.
AND WE ARE TIED! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/nCMwjr8eV9
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 28, 2019
From that point on, the score changed hands three times and was tied five times in the final minutes. CBU ended the second half shooting 52.9 percent from beyond the arc and 46.3 percent from the field. Fouls played a factor in the second half, as the Lancers were called for 15, while the Coyotes were whistled six times.
