RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team bounced back after a tough loss on Wednesday with a double-digit over Eastern Washington on Saturday night in Riverside.
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CBU had six home games to begin the season and will post a 4-2 record in those matches at the Dale E. & Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center following its win over the Eagles. For Eastern Washington, it drops their record to 1-5 amid a tough non-conference schedule.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The Eagles were the aggressors in the early minutes of the game, scoring seven of the first nine points to force Rick Croy to use an early time and huddle with his squad. Out of the timeout, CBU went on an 11-5 run to gain its first lead behind an offensive flurry from Martel Williams. Williams scored nine of CBU's first 14 points with a full arsenal of offensive moves. CBU would garner all the momentum on their side following a 9-0 that would eventually turn into an 18-2 run and put the Eagles at a significant deficit in the first half, trailing by 16 points.
Eastern Washington would close the half with some positives as they would trim the lead to single digits at 41-32 heading into the locker room. CBU was lights out from the field, converting 60% of its field goal attempts and dominating the paint battle 26-14. Williams led all scorers with 11 at the break on 5-8 shooting.
The Lancers would balloon its lead back up over double figures to begin the second of the action with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a lob to Williams from Sam Silverstein. CBU would only allow the Eagles to make two field goals over the opening five minutes of action and took their lead back up to 14. EWU would make a small run at the Lancers due to CBU being in foul trouble over the back half of the period, converting six straight free throw attempts to cut the lead to 63-54 in favor of the home team. The Eagles press gave CBU some fits in the second half, but the Lancers would eventually crack the code and burn the defense on several occasions for transition baskets.
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A pair of consecutive Silverstein field goals under five minutes would be the nail in the coffin for the Eagles as the Lancers would ride out the 79-68 home win.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Dominique Daniels Jr. and Williams led the team in scoring with 15 each, while guard Adam Moussa chipped in ten points off the pine. Moussa was playing in just his second contest of the season after an injury held him out of the opening few games, and he was a major factor in the win. Moussa dished out five assists, hauled in three rebounds, and knocked down a pair of triples in 27 minutes of action off the bench.
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CBU shot a season-high 56% from the floor, converting 32 of their 57 field goals in the double-digit win. The Lancers dominated the interior, outscoring the opposition 52-30 in the painted area, and also held a double-digit disparity in bench points at 23-12.
NEXT: The Lancers will hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Palm Desert to compete in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational from November 26-27. CBU is scheduled to play SMU and either Fresno State or Washington State, with both matches streaming live on Max and TruTv.
