California Baptist University
9-9,2-2WAC
Abilene Christian University
8-11,0-4WAC
CBU Grinds Out Victory over ACU on Saturday Evening
1/18/2025 6:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ABILENE, TX--- The California Baptist University men's basketball made sure not to leave Texas empty-handed as they ground out their first conference road win of the season, 60-54, over the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Saturday evening.
The win was the first ever for the Lancers inside Moody Coliseum after dropping the previous trips. The victory evens up CBU's Western Athletic Conference record at 2-2 and drops the Wildcats to 0-4 in the early going of the conference slate. The 2-2 conference record ties the Lancers with Utah Tech for 5th place in the standings through three weeks.
PLAY-BY-PLAY:
The Lancers were plagued by a slow start in this one, only reaching the double-figure mark at the 8:57 mark of the first half. ACU had a similarly slow start to the game but would hold a comfortable lead for the majority of the opening frame. The Lancers offense got going toward the back half of the period leading to a 10-2 run to tie the ball game at 22 apiece with 1:51 remaining. The Wildcats would convert a pair of free throws and tip-in at the buzzer to cling to a 28-24 lead as the two teams headed back to the locker room.
Despite the lackluster first-half shooting from the Lancers, the Lancers did a great job on the glass and in the second chance department to keep themselves in the ball game. CBU outrebounded ACU 21-14 in the first 20 minutes and doubled them up on the offensive glass 6-3.
The second half got off to a similarly rocky start, with neither team being able to generate much offense against the other's stingy defense. The Wildcats continued to cling to their minuscule lead for much of the second half until an Aj Braun driving layup gave the Lancers their first lead since the opening minute of the game at the 8:13 mark. ACU would regain the lead with 4:14 to go, but it would be short-lived as Javonte Johnson would cash in a corner pocket three to help CBU go up one with a touch over four minutes to play.
The Wildcats would knot up the score at 52 apiece, but again, Johnson would be the answer for the Lancers and would connect on a pair of free throws after drawing contact on a drive. With the Lancers up two, Dominique Daniels Jr. would slice his way to the basket and fight through some contact for a tough layup to push CBU's advantage to two possessions with 1:17 remaining. The Lancer defense would deny the Wildcats any comeback attempt and grind out the 60-54 lead at Moody Coliseum.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Daniels Jr. led the way for the Lancers as he has for the majority of the season, scoring 17 points, including 12 in the second half. Adam Moussa did a little bit of everything, scoring 11 points, hauling in a season-high seven rebounds, and dishing out four assists. Johnson was the spark the Lancers needed off the bench, scoring all nine of his points in the final five minutes to help CBU pull off the road win.
As a unit, CBU's dominance on the glass was a key component in the victory as they would crush the Wildcats on the glass by a 45-29 margin. CBU would also find a key advantage at the free-throw line, which has been a theme for the Lancers thus far this season. CBU would only make four more free throws than ACU, but they would outshoot them 76% to 57% in the game.
NEXT: The Lancers will return home to take on Utah Valley on Thursday, January 24, on ESPNU at 8 PM PT.
