California Baptist University
8-4,1-1WAC
Chicago State University
7-11,0-0DI Independent
The Lancers Dominate the Glass in Double-Digit Home Win over Chicago State
12/27/2023 10:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team returned to its winning ways on Wednesday night with a 74-62 victory over the Chicago State Cougars.
A Belated Christmas Gift in the Riv!! 🎁🎁#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/6butvmpLMp
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) December 28, 2023
The win moved the Lancers to 8-4 on the season and earned them their sixth victory in seven meetings over Chicago State in the all-time series between the two programs. The win also marked CBU's sixth home win of the season for the Lancers and the fourth time they have won by double-figures.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The Cougars controlled most of the first half of the ball game, holding the lead for all but 30 seconds of the opening 20 minutes. Chicago State shot 43% from the field in the opening half compared to 33% for the Lancers and connected on one more triple than CBU.
The Lancers managed to take the lead by one late in the half off of an and-1 opportunity by Malik Wade and then extended their lead to three points heading into halftime by virtue of a driving layup by Dominique Daniels Jr. just before the buzzer sounded.
The Lancers would not relinquish their halftime lead and led for the entirety of the second half. CBU dramatically improved its field goal percentage in the second half, shooting 50% from the field and connecting on nine free throw attempts to hold their lead.
CBU went on a 14-4 run from the 11:23 mark to the 6:16 mark of the second half to put the game out of reach and would lead by as many as 13 down the stretch of the game. The Cougars crept to within double figures with 2:03 to play, but the Lancers slammed the door shut on a Cougar comeback attempt after Yvan Ouedraogo broke loose and slammed home the ball off a pass from Daniels to bring the lead to 69-58.
CBU would seal up the game at the free throw line and earn the 74-62 home victory.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
The Lancers once again impressed on the glass tonight, winning the rebounding battle 41-28, including a staggering 20-9 advantage on the offensive glass. The offensive rebounding disparity also created 18 second-chance points for CBU compared to just eight for the Cougars. Ouedraogo led the charge on the glass tonight with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Four Lancers accounted for 66 of the team's 74 points, led by Daniels Jr and Scotty Washington, who each had 17 points. Blondeau Tchoukuiegno and Ouedraogo followed close behind them with 16 points apiece on an efficient 13 for 17 shooting combined. Tchoukuiegno, in particular, had an efficient night, converting seven of his eight field goal attempts, marking the third time he has shot over 75% from the floor this season.
As a unit, CBU shot 47% from the floor, their fourth-highest mark of the young season, and held an 18-point advantage in the paint (44-26). Shooting over the 40% mark has been an essential number for CBU, as they are now 6-1 this season when doing so.
NEXT: The Lancers will wrap up 2023 with a road trip to Las Cruces, NM, to take on the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, December 30 at 6 PM PT.
