RIVERSIDE – The California Baptist men's water polo team closed their first MPSF Invitational tournament on Sunday morning, facing #9 UC San Diego at UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center. The Lancers made a late run in the fourth quarter but came up one goal short, falling 12-11 to the Tritons.

The game was tied after the first frame as the Lancers held their own against the higher-ranked Tritons for three of the four quarters. However, a slow second period was the difference, as CBU was shut out in those eight minutes, 3-0. CBU won the third and fourth periods by the same 4-3 score, but the three-goal gap created in the second was too much to overcome.

Cameron Cullen led the Lancers against UCSD with a season-high four goals. Cullen led his squad all tournament, netting nine goals in four games and adding one assist, three steals, and four drawn exclusions. CBU also got significant tournament efforts from senior Caleb Teraoka and junior Bodhi Bowden. Teraoka recorded four goals, a team-high seven assists, a steal, and three drawn exclusions. Bowden also had four goals with a pair of assists, a team-high five steals, and two drawn exclusions.

The Lancers have a big week ahead, playing six games in three days and two different tournaments. Action begins with the single-day Gary Troyer Tournament in Pomona, where CBU will face Wagner and Ottawa (AZ) at 12:00 and 4:20 p.m. 

Saturday and Sunday will be spent in Irvine, participating in the WCC/Big West Challenge. CBU is in Group A with #17 LMU, #10 Long Beach State, and host #11 UC Irvine. Games one and two are scheduled for 8:00 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, with Sunday's game against UCI at 8:00 a.m. A fourth game will be played against an opponent from Group B, #9 UC San Diego, #7 UC Davis, San Jose State, and #11 UC Santa Barbara, at a time to be determined after the first three games are completed.