RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University's men's basketball team will ring in the New Year with a pair of Western Athletic Conference games, as the Lancers host The University of Texas Rio Grande on Jan. 2 and NM State on Jan. 4.

The Lancers open conference play on a six-game winning streak after going undefeated in December. The six-game win streak places the Lancers in a tie for 11^th among active winning streaks in the NCAA. As for the unbeaten record in December, only 24 teams in DI basketball pulled off that task. Eleven of those 24 teams still have one more game left to close out 2019 to remain undefeated. The Lancers were one of six teams out of the 24 to earn six or more wins during the final month of the decade. 

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Date: Thursday, Jan. 2
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: CBU Events Center
Watch:  WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Radio: Fox Sports AM 1350
Lancer Live Tip-Off Show at 6:40 p.m. (PST)

UTRGV comes into Thursday's contest at 4-8 on the season after losing its last three games. The Vaqueros have one more game on their slate before meeting the Lancers in the CBU Events Center, as they play Oklahoma on Monday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m.

Notables:

• This marks the first time these two teams will meet in the conference opener. Last season, the Lancers split with the Vaqueros as each side had better success on the road.
• Jordan Jackson, Javon Levi, and Lesley Varner II have picked back up where they left off in the 2018-19 season, leading the team in scoring.
• Jackson and Varner have played and started in every game this season, while Levi has missed a couple with just eight games under his belt.
• Jackson is the team's leading scorer with 14.7 points per game and the team's best free-throw shooter with an 86 percent clip.
• Varner is second in the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game but leads the team in rebounds with a 5.9 average.
• Levi, who was selected as a Preseason All-WAC Media First Team and Coaches' Second Team, boasts the third-most assists in the conference at 63.
• Head Coach Lew Hill is in his fourth season at the helm of the program after returning three of his five starters from the previous season.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: NM State
Date: Saturday, Jan. 4
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: CBU Events Center
Watch:  ESPN+ (U.S.)
Watch: WAC Digital Network (International Only)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Radio: Fox Sports AM 1350
Lancer Live Tip-Off Show at 6:40 p.m. (PST)

Saturday's game against NM State will serve as Inland Empire Appreciate Night, with tickets on sale for two dollars. Get your tickets here.

The Aggies are currently 9-6 on the season and sit behind the Lancers in second in the WAC standings after the first leg of the schedule.

Notables:

• The Aggies were unanimously selected as the favorite to repeat as WAC Champions in both the Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls prior to the 2019-20 season.
• Last season, the Aggies won the WAC Championship and Tournament Championship after going 15-1 in conference play.
• NM State's only loss came in the CBU Events Center, as the Lancers stunned the conference favorites in an 82-76 victory.
• Trevelin Queen and Jabari Rice serve as the team's top scorers, averaging 14.5ppg and 12.7ppg, respectively. Both Queen and Rice came off the bench in the 2018-19 season.
• NM State returned nine players from its championship team and four of its five starters for the 2019-20 season.
• Terrell Brown, Ivan Aurrecoechea, AJ Harris, and Queen were all named to the Preseason All-WAC Coaches and Media Poll Teams.
• The Aggies faced No. 5-seed Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, narrowly falling in a back and forth game, 78-77. It marked the 22^nd time the Aggies have made an NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Head Coach Chris Jans is in his third season at the helm of the program after guiding the team to a program-best 30-5 overall record in 2018-19.