RIVERSIDE – It was another exciting finish in the Events Center as California Baptist University men's basketball closed out a stretch of four games in nine days against Seattle U on Monday.
Five Lancers eclipsed double-digit scoring:
Reed Nottage (19),
Tre Armstrong (16),
Dan Akin (16),
Elijah Thomas (14) and
Ty Rowell (12) in the game. It was nearly enough to lead CBU past Seattle, but the Redhawks hit a three with four seconds left in regulation to force overtime. SU then won the game in overtime, 92-85.
California Baptist moves to 11-6 overall and 1-3 in the WAC, while the win moves the Redhawks (13-4, 4-0) into a three-way tie for first place in the WAC standings with NM State and Grand Canyon.
Nottage's team-high 19 points were accompanied by eight rebounds, while Akin notched his seventh double-double of the season and third in the last four games, with 15 rebounds to go with his 16 points, three assists and a steal.
Thomas gave CBU great energy all night and added five rebounds and a steal to go with his 14 points highlighted by 5-of-6 shooting from the line. Armstrong knocked down four threes for his 16 points and also had six assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Rowell also had a full stat sheet with five assists, four steals and three rebounds.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Elijah Thomas jumpstarted the Lancers by scoring nine of their first 13 points in the opening six-and-a-half minutes with a transition dunk, three, layup and a pair at the free-throw line. It helped give CBU a 15-10 lead eight minutes in.
The Lancers' lead grew to a first-half high 10 points, 32-22, with 6:43 left in the half after
Tre Armstrong knocked down back-to-back threes.
Seattle U fought back within a bucket, 34-31, with 3:15 left before the break but CBU closed out the half on a 7-2 run fueled by two jumpers from
Reed Nottage. It gave the Lancers a 41-33 lead at halftime, as Thomas and Armstrong finished the first half with 11 points each.
The Redhawks turned things around in the second half and took a five-point lead, 65-60, with 4:39 remaining. The Lancers responded with a 13-5 run to end regulation, which not only tied the game but gave them a three-point lead with 22 seconds left.
Nottage and Akin both had five points in the run, with Nottage providing the final field goal that made it 73-70 with 22 ticks left.
Seattle U managed to tie the game with a three pointer with four seconds left to force overtime with the score level at 73-73.
"We're a rebound away there in regulation," said CBU head coach
Rick Croy. "We stay in a zone and make them shoot a shot that I thought we would want them to shoot at the end of the game, and we couldn't collect the rebound. (Riley) Grigsby hits a big one. He's open, but you still have to make it and he made it to put the game into overtime."
The Redhawks hit three threes in overtime to put them over the edge and secure the win.
UP NEXT:
After three-straight home games, CBU is headed to Texas for conference games at Tarleton State on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. Pacific and Abilene Christian on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. PST. The Lancers will return home to host Sam Houston on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7 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.
