California Baptist University
2-0,0-0WAC
Kennesaw State University
1-1,0-0CUSA
CBU Bests Kennesaw State Behind Strong Free Throw Shooting Night
11/9/2024 11:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team made it a 2-0 start to their 2024-25 campaign with a high-scoring victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday evening in Riverside.
The Lancers pulled out the 88-84 victory to begin its season perfect behind a DI era record 35 made free throws.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Both offenses were percolating from the tip, shooting over 45% from the floor in the first half. Martel Williams was the early catalyst for the CBU offense, generating high-percentage offense in the paint for the Lancers in the opening frame. Williams scored a team-high 11 points on 75% shooting in the game's opening 20 minutes of action. Neither team was able to take a decisive advantage in the game as the two squads exchanged buckets through the majority of the first half. The Owls started to pull away a bit with an 11-2 run that gave them a six-point lead toward the end of the half, but CBU responded with a 6-0 to end the frame, highlighted by an AJ Braun tip-in as time expired. The layup tied the game at 42 as both teams headed back to the locker rooms.
The second half was plagued by foul trouble, with both teams getting into the bonus before the 12-minute mark. Kendal Coleman and Dominique Daniels Jr. showed out in the second half for CBU, combining for 24 points in that period. Coleman, in particular had significant impact from the charity strip with 9/10 shooting and chipping in on the glass as well with five rebounds. Coleman and the Lancers found themselves in a deadlock at 74 apiece with 6:12 remaining, but a critical stepback triple from Brantly Stevenson swung the momentum in the home team's favor, and Daniels Jr. would supplant that with two conversions at the rim.
The Owls would not throw the towel in just yet, executing a 6-0 run to bring the game back to a one-possession affair with 4:13 to play. The biggest play of the game came at the 1:00 mark when Coleman came flying in from the baseline for a dunk to give CBU a two-score cushion at 86-2. Kennesaw State was not able to recover from the back-breaking play, and Coleman would ultimately seal the Owl's fate at the free throw lane to pull out the 88-84 victory.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Coleman had a big night on both ends, leading the team in scoring with 21 and rebounding with 10. Coleman's 21 points were a new Lancer high, and he was efficient from the free-throw line with a 10-12 shooting night. Williams had his coming-out party for the Lancers tonight, scoring 20 points and making his mark from the charity strip with a perfect 10-10 night. Stevenson had himself another great night off the bench, scoring his 1,000th career point and leading the team in bench scoring with 12.
CBU's free-throw shooting set a new DI-era program record for the Lancers with 35 makes and tied the record for most attempts with 42. CBU had a 20-point advantage over the Owls from the charity stripe, with KSU cashing in 15 of their 16 attempts on the night. The Lancers also took care of the basketball extremely well, as they did in the opener, only committing eight turnovers compared to 17 for the Owls. CBU converted those 17 Owl turnovers into 24 points and also generated a 13-0 advantage in fastbreak opportunities.
NEXT: The Lancers will have a short turnaround as they get prepped to take on their crosstown rivals in the UCR Highlanders on Tuesday, November 12, at 7 PM in the Fowler Events Center.
