California Baptist University
21-10,10-6WAC
UT Rio Grande Valley
14-16,9-7WAC
Lancers End Regular Season Against UTRGV
3/7/2020 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EDINBURG --- California Baptist University's men's basketball team closed out the Western Athletic Conference schedule on Saturday, as the Lancers lost a heartbreaker in overtime to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 79-76.
The Lancers end the regular season with a 21-10 overall record and finish conference play in second at 10-6. The win for UTRGV gives the Vaqueros the second seed in the WAC Tournament, which will take place on March 12-14.
CBU set multiple records during its second season in the transition period, breaking last year's win total on the season (16) and capturing the most combined wins for a two-year program in DI men's basketball (37).
CBU will turn its attention to postseason now, as the Lancers will have a chance to participate in either the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) or the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). More information regarding the opponent will be available after the tournament field is announced on the evening of Sunday, March 15.
The Lancers will host the first-round game on Tuesday, March 17, at 7 p.m. with the opponent to be determined.
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 877-456-LANCER or online at cbulancers.com/postseason. Fans who buy five or more tickets starting at $5 each will receive a free Lance Bobblehead. The Bobbleheads can be picked up at the CBU Box Office after purchase. Limit one per account.
Milan Acquaah, De'jon Davis, and Ferron Flavors Jr. anchored the Lancers' offense on the night. Acquaah finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Davis and Flavors both finished with 15 points. Davis recorded his 12th double-double on the season, grabbing 11 rebounds in his 36 minutes of action. Zach Pirog also had a big night, grabbing 10 boards and adding seven points to his line.
With less than a minute left in regulation, the Lancers led by one, 65-64. Acquaah drove down the left side and put up a shot that bounced out, but Davis grabbed the rebound and put it back to give the Lancers a three-point edge, 67-64.
Javon Levi sunk the 3-point shot to tie the game up at 67 apiece, forcing an extra five minutes of play.
Acquaah took over for the Lancers in OT, scoring seven of the Lancers' nine points in the final frame.
His biggest basket came at the 2:31 mark after getting the hoop and harm for the three-point play to give the Lancers a four-point lead, 74-70.
And-One for Acquaah!!!#LanceUp⚔ | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/dIP3gXeVb1
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) March 8, 2020
UTRGV spent most of its time on the free-throw line in the closing minutes after a couple of costly fouls. Varner II delivered the heartbreaker for the Lancers, hitting the game-winning three with four seconds left on the game clock. Flavors had a good look to force the second overtime with a deep three, but the shot didn't get a friendly bounce.
The Lancers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Vaqueros, 55-36.
