California Baptist University
11-7,4-3WAC
Southern Utah University
6-12,1-6WAC
Daniels Sets New Records as the Lancers Win Third Straight at Home
1/20/2024 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball pushed its home winning streak to three with an 83-76 victory over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Saturday evening.
The win completed the season series sweep of the Thunderbirds for the Lancers and gave CBU a 4-3 mark in the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Lancers have won their ninth home game of the season, the second-most home wins in the conference behind Grand Canyon.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The Thunderbirds dictated the pace to begin the ball game, leading the Lancers for the first six and a half minutes of play. CBU took its first lead at 15-14 with 13:48 remaining off a spinning layup by Blondeau Tchoukuiegno. The two teams would exchange buckets before the Lancers would claim the lead for good from the 9:20 mark on.
Dominique Daniels Jr. and Scotty Washington rattled in consecutive buckets to balloon the lead to as many as eight, and the halftime lead would stand at 37-30 in favor of CBU. The two teams shot nearly identically from the floor, with just a field goal separating the two in the box score. CBU cashed in on three more triples than the Thunderbirds did and didn't miss a free throw to hold the seven-point halftime advantage.
The Thunderbirds gradually chipped away at the Lancer lead and got within one point at the 12:16 mark by a score of 48-47. Daniels took over the second half, scoring 24 of his game-high 39 points in the period to keep the Thunderbirds at arm's length. Southern Utah still would not go away and dwindled the deficit to just four with 2:42 to play, but Tchoukuiegno and Daniels would convert clutch buckets to squash the comeback attempt.
Daniels and the Lancers would salt the game away at the free throw line and ultimately walk away with the 83-76 victory.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Daniels Jr. would once again be the headliner for CBU in the victory. Daniels scored a DI program-record 39 points on six made triples. The record was first set in 2019 by Milan Acquaah, who scored 37 points in a home loss to South Dakota. Daniels also tied the DI program record for made free throws in a single game, converting 13 of his 14 attempts. The 39 points are the most made by any player in the WAC this season and tie him for the third most in a single game by any player in the NCAA.
Brantly Stevenson and Tchoukuiegno were the other two Lancers in double figures, each having 11 points. The Thunderbirds managed to outshoot CBU from the field, but the Lancers would outscore SUU by 15 from the perimeter and by two at the charity stripe.
The free throw line was a significant bright spot for CBU on the night, converting a season-high 83% of their attempts. The Lancers made 25 of their 30 shots from the charity stripe after entering the night as a top 50 team in the nation at getting to the line. The 83% shooting was just the second time this season the Lancers have broken the 80% barrier and the third time they have connected on at least 20 free throws.
CBU continues to shine on the glass, winning the rebounding battle in this game 37-33, including a 13-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Yvan Ouedraogo and Kendal Coleman led the way with eight rebounds apiece, while Hunter Goodrick came close behind with six.
NEXT: The Lancers will hit the road for a pair of games in the Lone Star State, beginning with a tilt against the UTRGV Vaqueros on Thursday, January 25th, at 4:30 PM PT.
