California Baptist University
Seattle University
MBB Preview: The Lancers Set for Quarterfinals Showdown with Seattle U
3/14/2024 7:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS, NV--- After an overtime victory in round one of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, the California Men's Basketball team is set to face off against the Seattle U Redhawks in the Quarterfinals.
The Lancers led for all but three minutes in the overtime thriller against Utah Valley and will advance in the WAC Tournament for the third straight season. CBU outscored the Wolverines by 11 in the overtime period, picking up their first win over the Wolverines since January of 2022.
CBU will now shift its focus on the short turnaround to the Seattle U Redhawks, who earned a first-round bye after finishing as the fourth seed in the conference. The Redhawks finished the season 18-13, including a 11-9 mark in conference play. This will be the second matchup in the conference tournament between the Redhawks and Lancers, with the first coming in CBU's WAC Tournament debut back in 2021. In that game, the Redhawks emerged victorious 83-66 in the first round.
If the previous two matchups between CBU and Seattle U this season are any indication, the game should be another thriller. A combined three points decided the two games and both came down to game-winners for the Redhawks. The Redhawks converted putback layups in both games to sweep the season series, including one as the buzzer sounded at the Redhawks Center in early January.
For the Redhawks, it will be the backcourt combo of Cameron Tyson and Alex Schumacher that will be the focal point, with the former being named First Team All-WAC and the latter making the Second Team. Tyson was third in the conference in scoring at nearly 18 per contest, while Schumacher was the WAC leader in assists per game with five.
CBU will lean on the backcourt of Blondeau Tchoukuiegno and Scotty Washington, who have led the team in scoring since the season-ending injury to Dominique Daniels Jr in early February. Tchoukuiegno led CBU in scoring in the first-round win over Utah Valley with 21 points while dishing out a career-high ten assists. Tchoukuiegno has scored in double-figures in every game since the injury to Daniels, including tying a career-high with 23 points against Grand Canyon.
Washington's number has also dramatically increased since his role has been increased. Washington has been averaging 16 points per game since early February and has put together three 20+ point performances over that stretch.
MATCHUP INFORMATION:
WAC Quarterfinals:
Opponent: Seattle U
Date and Time: Thursday, March 14 6 PM PT
Location: Las Vegas, NV- Orleans Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: FOX AM 1350
Tickets: Here
