RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University Lancers and the Utah Valley Wolverines met for the ninth time, and it marked the fourth time they clashed in the CBU Events Center. The Wolverines entered the game undefeated in the conference (4-0), #1 in the Western Athletic Conference Resume Seeding System, and on a ten-game winning streak. The game came down to the wire, but in the end, the Wolverines came out victorious 71-67.
CBU came out hot in the first half, opening up on a 10-4 run.
Taran Armstrong and
Riley Battin came out aggressive, combining for 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists. The Lancers led by as many as 11 before the Wolverines trimmed the lead to two at halftime. Sharpshooter
Joe Quintana, who leads the team in scoring, left the first half with eight minutes to play and would not return with a lower leg injury.
In the second half, the game went back and forth as both teams took turns going on runs.
Tre Armstrong and Blondeua Tchoukuiegno provided the Lancers with valuable offense, with Quintana out for the second half. Tre finished with 12 points (4-5 3 PM) and Blondeau had eight points off the bench. Utah Valley went on a late 11-1 run to close out the game, highlighted by a deep Trey Woodbury three to give the Wolverines the late lead.
Taran finished with 16 points, his second-highest total of the season, and Battin put together a strong 15-point and eight-rebound performance. The loss drops the Lancers to 2-3 in the conference and halts their conference win streak at two. The Wolverines will improve to 5-0 in the conference.
Next for the Lancers is another tough test, with the Grand Canyon Antelopes coming to Riverside on Saturday, January 14th. Tip-off is set at 7 p.m. in what should be another thriller.
