California Baptist University
3-1,0-0WAC
University of St. Thomas
2-3,0-0Summit League
The Lancer Bench Leads CBU to Victory over St. Thomas
11/18/2023 8:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball grinded out their first win of The Joust 66-62 over the St. Thomas Tommies.
The Lancers improved to 3-1 and even their tournament record after dropping a heartbreaker to Portland State in the tournament opener. The Tommies fall to 0-2 in the tournament and 2-3 overall after losing to Cal Poly in the final seconds in their opener.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The Lancers jumped out to a 6-0 start, highlighted by a tough drive by Scotty Washington that resulted in an and-1 off a Tommie turnover. The Tommies hung in and traded baskets with the Lancers to keep things close in the first portion of the opening period. The Tommies crept to within two of the Lancers at 14-16, but an 11-4 CBU run pushed the lead to as many as ten.
The Tommies stayed pesky and kept within striking distance of CBU as the first half waned on. The Lancers would convert on a pair of opportunities in the paint by Hunter Goodrick and Blondeau Tchoukuiegno to hold the Tommies run at bay and take the 36-31 lead into halftime.
The outset of the second half was an offensive struggle for both teams, as the two squads combined 7-30 from the floor. The Tommies kept cutting into the deficit and secured their first lead of the ball game at 47-46 with 9:26 to play.
The Lancers made the Tommies lead short-lived, storming ahead of the visitors with a 12-2 run. Brantly Stevenson and Tchoukuiegno delivered the final blows by knocking down consecutive triples to put the game out of reach indefinitely. St. Thomas mounted a comeback attempt but fell short by four in the end.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Tchoukuiegno continued his torrid offensive pace with a game-high 20 points off the pine on 80% shooting from the field. Tchoukuiegno's 20 were the most he has ever scored in a Lancer uniform and three points off a career-best 23 he scored while at New Hampshire. Stevenson combined with Tchoukuiegno to help the CBU bench outscore St. Thomas 32-18.
Goodrick was in double-figures, posting 14 points and hauled in a team-high nine rebounds. The Lancers led for all but 18 seconds of the ball game and were able to connect on 47% of their triple attempts.
NEXT: The Lancers will finish the Joust with a battle against Cal Poly on Sunday, November 19, with tip-off set for 5 PM.
