California Baptist University
5-6,0-0WAC
Middle Tennessee
8-3,0-0CUSA
CBU's Offense Struggles in Road Defeat at Middle Tennessee State
12/16/2024 6:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, TN--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team came out on the wrong side of a defensive battle in Murfreesboro on Monday night, falling 75-64 to Middle Tennessee State on the road.
The Lancer's offense could not get going all night and would drop their record to 5-6 in the back half of non-conference play. The Blue Raiders continue their hot start in non-conference by moving to 8-3 with the victory, including 4-1 at the Murphy Center.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
It was a defensive battle out of the gates at the Murphy Center, with the two normally potent offenses struggling to get going. Both teams had significant scoring droughts in the first 20 minutes, and neither team ended up shooting over 40% from the floor in the first frame. Middle Tennessee would have the lead for the majority of the half and would hold the largest lead at 21-13. CBU would come back with an 8-0 run to tie the game, and the Blue Raiders would get a late bucket to take a narrow 25-23 lead into the locker room. Javonte Johnson was a spark off the bench for CBU, leading the team with nine points on a pair of made triples.
The second half began slow as well, with the two teams combining for just one made field goal in the opening five minutes of play. Middle Tennessee's offense began to get going off of a pair of made triples by Camryn Weston with under 12 minutes to go to give the Blue Riders a 40-34 lead. Weston could not be stopped in the second half and would have a career night off the bench for MTSU, with 30 points on 9-17 shooting. CBU kept hanging around even as Middle Tennessee began to catch fire from the floor and kept the game within a manageable distance. Dominique Daniels Jr. would convert a mid-range floater with four minutes on the clock to cut the lead to one possession at 57-54, but that would be the closest CBU would get.
The Blue Raiders would take care of business at the free-throw line down the stretch and would grind out the 75-64 victory at the Murphy Center.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
For the seventh time this season and for the fourth straight game, Daniels Jr. would score over 20 points, doing so tonight on seven made goals. Johnson was the next leading scorer for the Lancers with 14 off the bench, and Kendal Coleman would be a force on the boards with 14, including five on the offensive glass.
CBU's offense was the bugaboo tonight, shooting a season low 31% from the field and could not find the range from distance with just four conversions on 24 attempts. The Lancers took care of the basketball at an exceptional rate tonight, with just seven turnovers, which has been a bright spot for this squad all season.
NEXT: The Lancers will conclude its road stretch at Fresno State on Saturday, December 21 at 2 PM.
