CBU Earns Dominating Senior Night Win over UTRGV

Wednesday, March 1

Riverside, Calif.

7 PM

California Baptist University

16-14,7-9WAC

UT Rio Grande Valley

15-16,5-12WAC

UTRGV

California Baptist

Photo by: Elijah Hickman

CBU Earns Dominating Senior Night Win over UTRGV

3/1/2023 10:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryley Collom, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team got back on track with an 88-70 victory on senior night over the UTRGV Vaqueros in the newly named Dale E. & Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center. The Lancers never trailed in the ball game and poured in their highest point total against a D-1 opponent this season.

In the first half, CBU scored a season-high 50 points and grabbed 32 rebounds, a first-half high for the Lancers. Taran Armstrong got off to a hot start scoring the first two CBU baskets er route to 16 in the first half to go along with six assists and five rebounds. Malik Wade gave the team essential minutes off the bench, scoring seven points, a season-high seven rebounds, and some key defensive stops. The defense also held the Vaqueros leading scorer and one of the top scorers in the conference Justin Johnson to five points on 2-10 shooting.

Taz going downhill is scary 😱💪🏻💪🏻#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/cw2CYVPueM
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) March 2, 2023

CBU led by as many as 25 in the second half as the offense continued to succeed in all phases of the game. The Vaqueros attempted to mount a comeback with under six minutes to play as they got it to within 12, but Blondeau Tchoukuiegno would score six late points to extinguish UTRGV and push the Lancers to victory.

Tchoukuiegno scored a season-high 19 points for CBU, which included 13-14 from the free throw line, which tied for the most by any Lancers in the D-1 era. Five Lancers scored in double figures for the second time all season, including all three seniors that suited up. Taran Armstrong recorded his fourth 20-point game of the season with seven assists. Senior Reed Nottage netted a season-high 17 points on 5-7 from the arc.

Our sharpshooting senior canning his season-high fifth triple to go along with a season-high 17 points. 🎯🔥3️⃣#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/kla3ilo5pw
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) March 2, 2023

As a team, the Lancers beat the Vaqueros at their own game and converted 21 out of 26 free throws. The Vaqueros came in, leading the nation in free throw attempts at 25.4 per game. CBU dominated the glass outrebounding the Vaqueros 50-30, including a 14-6 advantage on the offensive boards. The 50 rebounds were the most by CBU all season against a D-1 opponent.

Next, the Lancers will hit the road to finish the regular season with their first trip to Cedar City to take on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Tip-off is set for Friday, March 3rd, at 6 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.