California Baptist University
14-12,7-8WAC
Abilene Christian University
11-15,6-9WAC
CBU Falls on the Road to Surging Wildcats
2/22/2024 8:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ABILENE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team could not get back on the winning track on Thursday night as they visited the surging Abilene Christian Wildcats. The Wildcats defeated the Lancers 71-65 at Moody Coliseum to extend their winning streak to three after a rough start to conference play.
The Lancers fall to 7-8 in the Western Athletic Conference standings, and with the win, the Wildcats inch ever closer to CBU for the 7th seed in the WAC Resume Standings.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
It was the Wildcats who controlled the game's first 20 minutes, holding the lead for 19 minutes and change. ACU built a lead as large as ten points during the first half of play, but the Lancers were able to prevent the Wildcats from blowing the game open. The Lancers and Wildcats shot an identical 43% from the field through 20 minutes, but the Wildcats were able to convert three more field goals than the Lancers to hold a 33-25 lead going into halftime.
Blondeau Tchoukuiegno led the team in scoring with six as all eight Lancers who played in the first frame scored. Tchoukuiegno reached his 1,000th career point midway through the half on a transition layup. Tchoukuiegno is in year two with the Lancers and is second on the team in scoring at a little over 11 points in per contest.
The second half displayed more of the same, with the Lancers not able to close the gap on the surging Wildcats. The closest the Lancers came in the second was five at the 12:34 mark, following a layup by Yvan Ouedraogo. The Wildcats continued to keep the Lancers at arm's length for the duration of the second half and eventually put the game away 71-65.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
The backcourt of Tchoukuiegno and Scotty Washington led the way for CBU offensively, combining for 27 points on nine made field goals. Tchoukuiegno hauled in a season-high six rebounds to go with his 12 points before fouling out in 35 minutes of action.
The Lancers won the battle for the boards 35-29, including doubling up the Wildcats on the offensive glass. CBU shot 43% from the field but could not cash in on their free throw opportunities. Meanwhile, ACU shot 46% from the field and 80% from the line to help win their third straight game.
NEXT: The Lancers remain in the Lone Star State as they take on the Tarleton Texans on Saturday, February 24, at 2 PM PT.
