California Baptist University
Chicago State
MBB Preview: Lancers Resume WAC Play Against Cougars and Roos
1/21/2020 3:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University's men's basketball team will return to Western Athletic Conference play this week, as the Lancers will host Chicago State on Wednesday, Jan. 22, before hosting Kansas City on Saturday, Jan. 25.
The Lancers are currently riding a three-game winning streak and sit in a tie for second in the WAC standings at 3-1. CBU opened its first road trip of WAC play with a sweep over CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon and followed that up with a 34-point victory over Bethesda in a nonconference matchup.
Head Coach Rick Croy and his team continue to make noise in the second year of NCAA Division I play, as the Lancers have won a combined 29 games during two seasons. With 13 games remaining towards the RPI counter, the Lancers are four wins away from surpassing Grand Canyon (32) with the best win total in the second year of the transition period.
If you remove the RPI qualifier and simply count wins against DI opponents, the record is held by Grand Canyon and Seattle U at 30. The Lancers are currently one win away from jumping into a tie for third with 23 wins over the past two seasons.
For the third week this season, CBU has received votes on the College Insider Men's Mid-Major top-25 poll. The Lancers received six votes this week, which is the highest the program has received since joining the DI ranks.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Chicago State
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22
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 6:35 p.m. (PST)
Chicago State makes its way to the CBU Events Center for the first time this season. The Cougars are currently 4-17 on the season and 0-6 in the WAC.
Notables:
- The Cougars are led by 5-11 junior guard Xavier Johnson, who is averaging the third-most points in the WAC with an average of 16.2ppg.
- Johnson is joined by Andrew Lewis as the other Cougar to average double figures on the season, as Lewis helps spearhead the offense with 11.8ppg.
- CSU is in search of its first WAC win since the 2017-18 season, when the team beat Kansas City in the final game of the regular season, 96-82.
- CBU currently holds a 2-0 series lead over the Cougars, as the Lancers won the last matchup, 94-44, on Feb. 7, 2019.
- Head Coach Lance Irvin is in his second season at the helm of the program after being hired on Aug. 7, 2018.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Kansas City
Date: Saturday, Jan. 25
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: CBU Events Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Radio: Fox Sports AM 1350
Lancer Live Tip-Off Show at 6:35 p.m. (PST)
Kansas City enters Saturday's contest at 9-11 on the year and 2-4 in the WAC. The Roos swept their first two games over Seattle U and Utah Valley, but have since then lost their last four.
Notables:
- In the last three games, the Roos have lost to NM State by three, dropped an overtime game to CSU Bakersfield, and lost to Grand Canyon by three.
- Kansas City has been strong at home with a 6-2 record but struggled on the road at 1-8 on the season.
- The Roos look to get after teams early on the defensive side of things, recording the second-most steals per game with an average of 7.7.
- With the aggressive nature, Kansas City holds the second-most personal fouls per game at 21.7, while the Lancers lead the WAC in free throw percentage at 78.0.
- Javan White, Brandon McKissic, and Jordan Giles lead the Roos on offense, as the trio averages double figures on the season.
- Billy Donlon became the seventh head coach in Kansas City men's basketball history on March 28, 2019.
