California Baptist University
20-8,9-4WAC
Utah Valley
11-18,5-9WAC
Lancers Reach 20 Wins In Year Two
2/26/2020 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- Behind two 20-point-plus performances by Milan Acquaah and De'jon Davis, California Baptist University's men's basketball team captured its 20th win of the season after beating Utah Valley, 73-66.
The Lancers now reach 20 wins in just their second year of NCAA Division I play and continue to set the bar for wins during the transition period. CBU is now 20-8 on the season and 9-4 in the WAC for sole possession of second place.
The Big 2⃣0⃣
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 27, 2020
That's win No. 20 on the season, as the Lancers improve to 20-8 and 9-4 in the WAC!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/xTNhA4zDdL
The Lancers also become just the second team out of the Southern California NCAA DI schools to reach 20 wins on the season. San Diego State leads the pack with 26 wins, while USC and UC Irvine both have 19. The Lancers are now just one of 48 teams in DI men's basketball to reach 20 wins at this point in the season.
CBU will play its final home game of the regular season against Seattle U on Saturday, Feb. 29. Saturday's game marks senior day for the Lancers, as the team will honor Micah Robinson, Omar Lo, Brandon Boyd, Zach Pirog, and Davis before the game starts. The game will be televised on ESPN+, and an international version will be streamed on the WAC Digital Network. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Acquaah led all scorers with 24 points, going 8-20 from the field with seven rebounds and three assists. Davis was a monster all night for the Lancers, recording his 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Davis also recorded his 1,000th career point as a Lancers right before halftime after catching a pass from Tre Armstrong inside the paint. Boyd added 13 points and Pirog tied the CBU Events Center record with a career-best six blocks.
Here's the moment De'jon Davis scored his 1,000th career point at CBU!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/PBhj6eJrmd
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 27, 2020
It was a slow start for both teams, as neither side could jump-start the engine on offense. Utah Valley enjoyed the first part of the lead after five minutes of play, but Davis gave the Lancers a 10-8 edge after a nice move inside the paint.
The Lancers went on a 7-0 run soon after as Davis continued to be the spark plug for the Lancers on both ends of the floor.
The game was knotted for the sixth time at the 5:04 mark, and both teams traded baskets until the horn went off for halftime. UVU was able to secure a driving layup with less than five seconds left to take a 29-28 lead at the break.
Both teams were shooting under 40 percent from the field after the first 20 minutes, and they both combined to go 3-19 from the 3-point line.
Neither side was able to build out a lead or go on a run for most of the second half, as the score stayed within a one-possession match for the first 13 minutes.
UVU went on a 6-2 run at the 6:31 mark to take a six-point lead, but Davis and Glenn Morison were quick to answer back for the Lancers.
Davis found Morison underneath the basket after drawing the double team and set up Morison for the and-one after a nice pass in the paint.
What a pass by Davis!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/TNfD32ixIg
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) February 27, 2020
Morison's basket cut the lead to two, but it would be Acquaah who would do the heavy lifting for the remainder of the way.
The junior guard out of Bakersfield hit a stepback three to cut the lead to one and gave the Lancers the lead after two free throws at the 4:09 mark, 58-57. It marked the Lancers' first lead since the 14:41 mark in the second half.
UVU tried to respond, but with each made basket, the Lancers continued to answer the call. CBU ended the game on the free-throw line, beating the Wolverines, 73-66. The Lancers outscored the Wolverines 24-11 in the final six minutes of action.
