California Baptist University
10-5,1-1WAC
NM State
10-6,1-0WAC
Lancers Fight Hard Against Aggies
1/4/2020 11:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University hosted NM State for its second game of Western Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as the Lancers dropped a hard-fought battle to the Aggies, 86-71.
CBU came into the game with the nation's fifth-best winning streak of seven in a row. After opening WAC play with a 76-67 victory over The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, the Lancers sat atop the conference standings at 10-4, 1-0 on the season. As for NM State, the Aggies entered Saturday's game with nearly a week off and without the taste of conference play.
NM State, which was picked to repeat as the WAC Champions for the second year in a row by the WAC Coaches' and Media Poll, returned nine letter winners and four of their five starters from the historic 2018-19 season.
Last season, the Lancers stunned the Aggies in the CBU Events Center, coming away with an 82-76 victory in the Lancers' first game in the WAC.
The Aggies were able to exact their revenge, though, using a 50-point second half to keep their distance from the Lancers down the stretch.
The game saw eight lead changes and was tied four times during the back and forth battle between the conference's top two teams.
Milan Acquaah led the charge on the night, recording a team-high 24 points, eight assists, and two rebounds. Ferron Flavors Jr. went 6-11 from the field for 17 points, while Brandon Boyd was the final Lancer in double figures with 11.
It was a one-possession game for the first eight minutes as each side traded baskets. NM State was able to capture the first big run of the game from the 13:55 mark to the 9:02 mark. During the four minutes, the Aggies strung together a 16-1 run to take a 28-14 lead over the Lancers.
CBU wouldn't go down without a fight, though, answering back with a run of its own moments later. Acquaah, Zach Pirog, and Boyd helped the Lancers go on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to five, 31-25, at the 4:56 mark.
With momentum on their side, the Lancers capitalized, going on an 11-3 in the final two and a half minutes.
Acquaah kept the run going with a corner three to beat the shot clock and bring the Lancers within two.
Hand down, Man down!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/qhaVcX9ugC
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 5, 2020
After getting a steal on the other end, Acquaah pushed the floor to find Flavors in the final seconds. With a hand in his face, Flavors let one fly, beating the buzzer and giving the Lancers a 37-36 edge at the break.
Flavors at the buzzer and the bank is open!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/oo3GHohUuY
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 5, 2020
After the Aggies went on an 8-0 run midway through the second half, the Lancers weren't able to close the gap.
Acquaah cut into the double-digit lead with a three at the 4:58 mark, but the Aggies responded with five straight points to put the game out of reach.
💦 SPLASH 💦
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 5, 2020
Acquaah is up to 24 points on the night!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/QLtlQ7hi5k
The Lancers will hit the road next week when they face CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. and Grand Canyon on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.
