California Baptist University
4-3,0-0WAC
Southern Methodist University
5-2,0-0ACC
CBU Falls in Heartbreaker to SMU Despite Coleman's Career Night
11/27/2024 12:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PALM DESERT, CA--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team nearly pulled off an upset of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational but would come up short 79-77 in the final seconds.
CBU star forward Kendal Coleman would set a new career-high in the loss with 32 points on 12 made field goals. The Lancers fall to 4-3 in the early going of the non-conference schedule, while the SMU Mustangs improved to 5-2 in its first year as an ACC member. The game against SMU was CBU's first-ever matchup with an ACC opponent in program history.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The early going of the Holiday Invitational was going all SMU's way, with the Mustangs jumping out to an early 10-4 advantage on the Lancers. CBU would tie the game a few moments later, but it would be short-lived as the Mustangs would go on a 14-3 run to take a double-digit lead in the first half. CBU would once again erase the deficit to get within one possession at 25-22 at the 8:23 mark. SMU would throttle ahead in the waning minutes of the first half to take a 45-32 lead after 20 minutes at Acrisure Arena. The Lancers shot 48% from the floor in the first half but surrendered 55% shooting on the other end of the floor.
The second half was an impressive display of offense for the Lancers, particularly from its two stars, Dominique Daniels Jr. and Kendal Coleman. The two stars combined for 36 points in the second half alone, including 25 from Coleman. CBU's 15-2 run in the first nine minutes would not only force an SMU timeout but would tie the ball game at 54 after the Lancers trailed by as many as 16. SMU would hold a fragile lead over CBU for the majority of the second portion of the half, with the Lancers tying the game on several occasions down the stretch.
With CBU trailing 77-73 with 1:09 remaining, Daniels Jr. would draw a foul while driving to the basket and connect on both free throws to slash the lead to a one-possession game. CBU's defense would get a critical stop, and Daniels Jr. would tie the game on a scoop layup to force SMU to call a timeout. The Mustangs would trickle the clock all the way down to two seconds on what would prove to be their final possession. SMU's leading scorer, Boopie Miller, would knock down a leaning jumper with two seconds remaining, and CBU would miss a halfcourt heave to produce the final 79-77 result.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Coleman was the story of the night for the Lancers, producing a career-high 32 points on 12 made field goals. Coleman's distance shooting was the key factor in his career game, connecting on a career-high six triples on eight attempts. Coleman's 32 points bested his previous career high by seven points, which he set at Northwestern State, and topped his previous best in a Lancer uniform by 11, which he set against Kennesaw State.
The numbers across the board were nearly identical between CBU and SMU, with both teams shooting just over 50% from the field and matching each other with 40 points apiece in the paint.
NEXT: The Lancers will be back at Acrisure Arena on Wednesday, November 27, to compete in the third-place game against Fresno State at 9 PM PT.
