RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team will complete its extended conference road trip this week as they travel to Texas to battle Tarleton and Abilene Christian.

The Lancers began conference play with a close win over the Seattle U Redhawks at home before falling short on the road to Utah Valley last Saturday in Orem to begin Western Athletic Conference play 1-1 and 8-8 overall on the season.

The first game of the week will be a visit to Stephenville, Texas, to take on the Tarleton Texans, who are currently 2-1 in conference play. The Texans kicked off WAC play with a 77-74 win over the 2024 runner-ups, the UT Arlington Mavericks, before splitting its Utah road trip against Southern Utah and Utah Tech last week. CBU has dominated the all-time series in this matchup, winning five of the six games against the Texans since 2021. The only win for Tarleton came in Stephenville last season when the Texans won 82-65. 

Tarleton has been one of the top teams in the country in generating turnovers, forcing nearly 18 per game. The 18 turnovers forced per contest is the third-best in the NCAA this season, and the Texans are consequently a top 20 team in steals with nearly ten per game. Tarleton's Bubu Benjamin has been the offensive leader for the Texans this season, averaging over 16 points per contest, which is the third-best mark in the conference. Benjamin played sparingly as a freshman for TSU last season and has been one of the most improved players in the country for Coach Billy Gillispie's group.

The final game of the road trip will be in Abilene to take on the Wildcats at Moody Coliseum. ACU is still seeking its first conference win after dropping its opening two games on the road to Utah Valley, and Seattle U. ACU will head to Phoenix on Thursday night before its conference home opener against the Lancers on Saturday. CBU will be seeking its first-ever win in Moody Coliseum in that Saturday matchup, with the Wildcats holding a 2-0 record over CBU in its home arena. ACU was picked seventh in the conference preseason poll and, like Tarleton, is one of the NCAA's most aggressive teams at forcing turnovers. Abilene Christian ranks 10th in the country in most turnovers forced at 16.53 and is 11th in steals per game at 10.1 per contest.

GAME INFORMATION:

CBU at Tarleton

DATE/TIME: Jan. 16 @5 PM PT

LOCATION: Wisdom Gym- Stephenville, TX

WATCH: ESPN+

GAME INFORMATION:

CBU at Abilene Christian

DATE/TIME: Jan. 18 @4 PM PT

LOCATION: Moody Coliseum- Abilene, TX

WATCH: ESPN+