California Baptist University
Chicago State University
MBB Preview: The Lancers Prep for a Pair of Holiday Break Games
12/23/2023 12:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team will play two games over the holiday break, welcoming in Chicago State and heading to Las Cruces to face New Mexico State.
Both the Aggies and the Cougars are former Western Athletic Conference foes of the Lancers and have matched up with CBU 14 times prior in conference matchups. The Lancers enter the games 7-4 and are coming off a one-possession loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Riverside.
GAME #1 vs. CHICAGO STATE:
The Cougars and Lancers have met six times in program history, with CBU owning a 5-1 lead in the series. The Lancers have never lost to the Cougars in Riverside and won the last outing against them 62-53 at the Fowler Events Center in 2022.
Since leaving the WAC, the Chicago State Cougars have been independent but will officially join the Northeast Conference in 2024-25. The Cougars are 7-10 on the season and amid one of the best stretches in their program's history, having won five of their last seven. One of those wins came over #25 Northwestern in Evanston, the first-ranked win for the Cougars in program history. The Cougars experienced a setback in Madison in their previous game, losing 80-53 to Wisconsin.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE:
The Cougars are led in scoring by Wesley Cardet Jr., who averages 18.4 points per game and five rebounds per contest. Cardet was named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week last week amid the Cougars' four-game winning streak and was also named the Andy Katz's and Dick Vitale Player of the Week.
Cardet scored a season-high 30 points in the upset win over #25 Northwestern and has already poured in nine 20-point performances this season. Cardet has been accompanied by forward Jahsean Corbett, who scores 12.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at seven per game.
Third-year Head Coach Gerald Gillion leads the Cougars after spending one season with the Samford Bulldogs. Gillion was named the Coach of the Week by ESPN's Jeff Borzello after wins over #25 Northwestern and Valparaiso.
GAME 2 at NM STATE:
After leaving the WAC for Conference USA this season, the Aggies and Lancers will face each other again on the hardwood. The game will be the final matchup of the WAC-CUSA Scheduling Initiative for the Lancer and the Aggies. The game will also mark the ninth time the two programs have battled one another and the third-straight time the two teams will meet in Las Cruces.
The Aggies hold the series edge 5-3, but it was the Lancers who got the victory in the previous meeting. CBU defeated the Aggies 70-61 at the Pan American Center, marking their first-ever true road win over New Mexico State.
The Aggies are 5-9 this season and are on a three-game slide. The Aggies only have one win this season over a DI opponent, beating Northern Colorado at home on November 18, 76-71. The Aggies have scheduled some challenging games, including two against their in-state rival, the New Mexico Lobos, and have played #9 Kentucky and UC Irvine on the road.
SCOUTING NM STATE:
The Aggies have three players averaging double-figures, led by Femi Odukale, who averages 12 points and six rebounds, both leading the team. Odukale is joined by Christain Cook and Robert Carpenter, who have both played in every game for the Aggies this season and average ten points per contest.
The Aggies rank in the top 100 of college basketball in two categories: getting to the free throw line and converting free throws. The Aggies average getting to the charity stripe 22 times per contest and knock down 15 of them per game to boot.
LANCERS AT A GLANCE:
The Lancers are led by JUCO transfer Dominique Daniels Jr., who leads CBU in scoring at 18.6 per contest. Daniels is second in the WAC in scoring and is coming with his best performance as a Lancer with a 32-point explosion against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Daniels converted ten of his 19 field goal attempts, and it was his second 30-point game of the season.
CBU is 50th in the nation in rebounding margin, outrebounding their opponents an average of 6.5 times per game. A large reason for the disparity is Hunter Goodrick. Goodrick is 17th in the nation in rebounding at ten per contest and is 20th in defensive rebounding. Yvan Ouedraogo has also been a major factor on the boards, pulling in 8.4 per contest and recording four double-digit rebounding games this season already.
MATCH INFORMATION:
Opponent #1: Chicago State
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 27 at 7 PM
Location: Riverside, CA
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: FOX AM 1350
Tickets: HERE
Opponent #2: New Mexico State
Date and Time: Saturday, December 30 at 6 PM PT
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: FOX AM 1350
