RIVERSIDE – Sixteen players combined for 23 goals in one of the highest-scoring games in California Baptist University men's water polo history on Friday. The seventh-ranked Lancers defeated Fresno Pacific 23-9 to improve to 5-4 on the year, while the Sunbirds lost their first game of the year.

CBU got just about everybody into the game, with all four goalies splitting quarters and everyone on the bench getting in on the action. Six Lancers scored twice in the game: Cameron Cullen, Matt Olsen, PJ McDonough, Zach Zetz, Toby Bumgardner and Joseph Mireles.

Twenty-three goals are the fourth-most ever scored in a game by the Lancers. CBU's record for goals in a game is 26, which has been done twice against Ottawa (Arizona) and McKendree in 2019 and 2017, respectively.

Ball movement was key to CBU's offense, as it assisted on 20 of 23 goals. It ties for the fourth-most assists in a game from the Lancers, a feat that has been achieved five other times. Zach Lowery led the Lancers in point with five on four assists and a goal to go with three steals. Ian Escoto and Thomas de Wit both had four points on three assists and a goal, while Escoto also had two steals.

McDonough, Jacob Bullock, Hunter Barnett, Joseph Starr and Mireles all had a goal, assist and steal in the game, as well.
The Lancers jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter and then bounced back from a shaky second quarter with a 7-1 performance in the third.

UP NEXT
CBU wraps up the regular season and continues its homestand with three more home games next week. The Lancers will host eighth-ranked Air Force for two more non-conference games with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 26, at noon and 7 p.m. CBU will then get a rematch with fifth-ranked Pepperdine on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m.