California Baptist University
11-5,2-1WAC
CSU Bakersfield
7-10,1-1WAC
Lancers Leave 'Runners In The Dust
1/8/2020 11:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BAKERSFIELD --- California Baptist University's men's basketball team picked up its first Western Athletic Conference road win of the season Wednesday, as the Lancers beat the Roadrunners of CSU Bakersfield, 83-75.
The win for the Lancers improves them to 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in the WAC. The loss for the 'Runners is the first conference loss of the season after they opened WAC play with a win over Grand Canyon. CSUB is now 7-10 on the season and 1-1 in the WAC.
Brandon Boyd led the Lancers on the night, going for a team-high 23 points on 4-9 shooting and 13-14 from the free-throw line. In just his third game of the season, Bul Kuol was the difference-maker for the Lancers. Kuol finished with 16 points on a perfect 6-6 from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Zach Pirog and Milan Acquaah were the other two Lancers in double figures, scoring 14 and 12, respectively.
CBU produced one of its best shooting nights on the season, shooting 54.5 percent from the field (24-44). The shooting percentage for the Lancers marks the highest of the season against WAC opponents and the third-best of the season.
The 'Runners had all the momentum in the early going, scoring seven straight points to open things up. Pirog and Boyd helped the Lancers slow the game down, getting to the free-throw line, and cutting the deficit to three, 9-6, at the 15:52 mark.
Two minutes later, the Lancers washed the deficit away with the first tie of the game after Acquaah found Boyd in the corner.
Acquaah to Boyd for threeee!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/FNvcZdfOZv
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 9, 2020
Kuol made his presence known midway through the half, using a nifty spin move to give the Lancers a 17-16 edge.
Spin Cycle 🌪#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/uQeLqwVanA
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 9, 2020
Kuol was then on fire after his first basket, scoring nine straight points to give the Lancers a 24-18 lead with seven minutes left in the first half.
What a great pass by Big Z! #LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/Y9ivFwluYG
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 9, 2020
After the nine points by Kuol, the Lancers never looked back in the first half. CBU closed out the final six minutes on a 16-8 run to take a 14 point lead at the break, 40-26.
The second half was a rollercoaster ride for both teams, as each side traded momentum and runs throughout the final 20 minutes.
CSUB cut into the Lancers' double-digit lead at the 16:57 mark, and even cut it to one a minute and a half later after a Taze Moore layup, 46-45.
Kuol answered for the Lancers, hitting a much needed three on the next possession, 49-45.
The game became back and forth after the Kuol triple, as the Lancers answered each time the 'Runners put the pressure on.
Boyd scored his biggest basket of the game at the 6:26 mark, giving the Lancers their double-digit lead back at 67-57.
Big Bucket Boyd!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/nRDZlIJuBM
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 9, 2020
It became a free throw game after that, as the Lancers continued to use the clock against the Roadrunners.
Ferron Flavors Jr. put the game away at the 1:53 mark, knocking down a wide-open three out of a press break.
Ferron Flavors Jr. with a big-time three!!!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/QL6zbW9wbP
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) January 9, 2020
In the final minute, the Lancers went 9-10 from the free-throw line to close out the game.
