California Baptist University
7-4,2-2WAC
Long Beach State
3-5,2-2Big West
Lancers Post Multiple Career-Highs In Win Over Long Beach State
1/23/2021 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University was unstoppable on Saturday night against Long Beach State University, as the Lancers brought the rain to the Beach in a 21 point victory, 96-75.
The Lancers were firing on all cylinders in the non-conference matchup against the Beach, shooting 56 percent from the field (28-50) and 55 percent from the 3-point line (11-20). This marks the second time this season the Lancers have shot 50 percent or higher from both categories on the season. The Lancers shot 61 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line in the win against Fresno Pacific on Dec. 12.
Prior to tonight's game, the Lancers were tied for 22nd in the country among NCAA Division I schools with over 100 3-point attempts on the season while shooting 38 percent or better on the year. CBU should move up on that list after this contest.
With tonight's win, the Lancers improve to 7-4 overall and have won their last four straight games.
Gorjok Gak was a force on both ends of the court against the Beach, leading the Lancers with a new career-high 26 points while adding a team-high 16 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Ty Rowell was right behind Gak with 22 points while tying his career-highs in assists (8) and steals (3). Reed Nottage finished with 18 points, going 6-8 from the field, grabbing six boards, and dishing out four assists. Mark Carbone was the final Lancer in double figures, setting a new career-high with 16 points and tying his career-highs in assists (3) and steals (2).
Gak and Rowell become the first pair of Lancers to score over 20-plus points in a game since Tre Armstrong and Rowell did it against SE Louisiana on Dec. 4.
The Beach were in command of the game early on, as they led for 15 of the 20 minutes in the first half. Gak gave the Lancers their first lead at the 7:10 mark after a no-look pass by Rowell set Gak up for the easy two.
Nice little no-look pass for Rowell and the Lancers take the lead! #lanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/fEjfVoK5HL
— CBU Men's Basketball 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (@CBUmbb) January 24, 2021
Long Beach State put together another run soon after, extending its lead to seven with 1:53 left in the first half, but Carbone made back-to-back threes to bring the Lancers within one, 40-39.
Mark Carbone goes back-to-back from three!!! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/3yKTvQDMB2
— CBU Men's Basketball 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (@CBUmbb) January 24, 2021
The Carbone threes helped jumpstart the Lancers, as they ended the half, scoring nine straight points to take a 42-40 lead at the break.
California Baptist opened the second half with seven straight points, capping off its run from the end of the first half with 16 unanswered points to take a 49-40 lead at the 18:12 mark.
The Lancers didn't look back after that, as the lead grew to double digits three minutes later, and they put the game out of reach for the Beach.
FROM CROY:
"We weren't connected in the first half defensively. We had too many breakdowns, either guarding personnel or letting them get to the rim, and things were a bit too easy for them. The really strong teams pull together when things get tough, and that's what we were able to do. I thought we came out of the half with great focus and really got in a stance and worked at it and got on our front foot. It starts with our communication and moving each other really shocking each other into the action. It needs to be executed, and we did that with so much more force in the second half, and we got off our heels, and that was big for us."
UP NEXT:
The Lancers will continue Western Athletic Conference play in the coming week, as they host WAC newcomer Dixie State on Jan. 29-30. Both games are set for 6 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG:
All home and away games for CBU men's basketball will once again be available through Fox Sports AM1350 in the greater Riverside area and beyond. Braiden Bell will handle play-by-play responsibilities and host pre-game and post-game shows featuring exclusive interviews with the team and Coach Rick Croy. Fans can download the iHeartRadio app for free and listen to the CBU broadcasts from anywhere. Simply search for Fox Sports 1350 when using the iHeartRadio app.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Don't forget to follow @CBUMBB on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with the season.
