Lancers Play Homecoming Spoiler at Bakersfield

Saturday, February 23

Bakersfield, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

CSU Bakersfield

California Baptist

CSU Bakersfield

Lancers Play Homecoming Spoiler at Bakersfield

2/23/2019 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score

By: Mike Minyard, Assoc. AD for External Relations

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – California Baptist (15-11; 6-6 WAC) played Homecoming spoiler as it never trailed in a dominant 72-58 win at CSU Bakersfield (16-11; 7-6 WAC) on Saturday night.

Senior Jordan Heading led the Lancers with a season-high 28 points while shooting 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. The six made three pointers tied a career high. Heading is hitting his stride the second half of the season, averaging 16.6 ppg while shooting 50-percent from the field and 43-percent from deep through 12 Western Athletic Conference games.

Milan Acquaah, a Bakersfield native, had a Homecoming of his own with many family members in the stands tonight. Acquaah finished with 11 points, eight assists and four rebounds.

https://t.co/NJ9hA7VocA
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 24, 2019

The Lancers took control of the game early. After scoring the first three points of the game, CSUB quickly tied it up. CBU's Jeremy Smith scored in the paint a couple minutes into the contest to make it 5-3 and the Lancers never relinquished the lead. The Lancers built the lead out to as many as 19 points in the first half while shooting 60.7-percent from the field and going 6-of-12 from three point range. CSUB shot just 36.4-percent from the field in the first half. CBU led 44-33 at halftime.

Jordan Heading from downtown!

Lancers with 5⃣ treys in the first eight minutes of the game.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/3fsvySrRo5
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 24, 2019

In the second half, CSUB was only able to get the lead down to nine points in the first couple minutes. The Lancers at that point went on an 18-4 run to push the lead to a game-high 23 points with 7:54 remaining in the game. CBU would cruise the rest of the way for the 72-58 league road win.

2⃣3⃣

Largest lead of the night!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/KjovGu3F8j
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 24, 2019

CBU now has seven true road wins this season with tonight's victory. Entering today, only 52 teams in the country had seven or more road wins.

Winning on the road never gets old!

The Lancers have won 7️⃣ true road games this season. Entering today, only 52 teams in the country had seven or more road wins. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ocWh1hvkAn
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 24, 2019

Ty Rowell joined Heading and Acquaah in double-digit scoring with 11 points. De'jon Davis added seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Jarkel Joiner led the Roadrunners with 22 points. Rickey Hodlen and Damiyne Durham both added 10 points each.

The Lancers return to Riverside for their final two regular season home games against a pair of league foes. CBU will face Seattle on Thursday and Utah Valley on Saturday. Heading will be recognized as part of Senior Night prior to the start of Saturday's game.

CBU will finish out the regular season on the road at UTRGV on March 7 and at WAC-leader New Mexico State on March 9.

CHASING HISTORY
The Lancers will work to improve their postseason resume over the next four games as they are eligible for either the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) or CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). Grand Canyon is the only first-year DI transition team to advance to postseason in at least the last 20 years. The Lopes participated in the opening round of the CIT after going 15-14 in the regular season with 12 wins against DI competition. GCU fell at home to Pacific, 69-67, in that game to finish the year at 15-15.

CBU currently sits with a 15-11 overall record with 11 wins over DI opponents. CBU and GCU are the only two first-year transition programs to post double-digit wins against DI teams in the last 10 seasons.

According to research by the CBU Sports Information staff, there have been 49 programs that have transitioned since 1996-97 with only nine of the programs posting 10 or more wins against DI teams in their inaugural season.