California Baptist University
Seattle University
MBB Preview: CBU Opens Up Conference Play on Saturday vs. Seattle U
1/2/2025 10:38:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team opens up conference play this weekend as they host the Seattle U Redhawks on Saturday, January 4, in the Fowler Events Center. The game will mark the final game of The Holiday Series presented by Stater Bros. Markets.
CBU and Seattle U will be one of four matchups in Western Athletic Conference play on Saturday, and it will be the first time since 2020 that the Lancers will open up conference play at home. CBU went 7-7 in a challenging non-conference slate, posting wins over Kennesaw State, Fresno State twice, Jackson State, Eastern Washington, LIU, and Incarnate Word. The Redhawks, who had a similarly challenging schedule, enters the matchup 5-7.
The Redhawks and Lancers have had one of the most competitive matchup histories in the conference, with the Redhawks holding the season series advantage at 9-5. Last season was a microcosm of the matchup history, with both games coming down to the final possession. Seattle U came out on the winning side of both games with game-winning shots. In non-conference play, the Redhawks challenged themselves with games against #11 Duke, UC San Diego, Washington, Liberty, and Western Kentucky. The Redhawks claimed victory in two of those matchups with road wins against Washington and UCSD.
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, the Georgia transfer, has been the scoring and rebounding leader for the Redhawks, with averages of 15 and 11, respectively. Moncreiffe's rebounding average is tops in the WAC and ninth in the NCAA. The Redhawks are one of the best teams in the league at drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line, averaging 19 attempts (7th) and 26 makes per contest (12th).
For the Lancers, Dominique Daniels Jr. has been the story of the season, with the senior guard averaging 22.1 points per game. Daniels Jr. is third in the NCAA in total points, sixth in points per game average, ninth in field goals made, and first in field goal attempts. Nine times Daniels Jr. has scored at least 20 points this season, including a season-high 33 points on the road against UCF. On the other side of the ball, Kendal Coleman has been a force on the boards. Coleman is in the top 50 in the nation in terms of rebounds per game, total rebounds, and defensive rebounds.
As a unit, the Lancers have been one of the best teams in college basketball at the charity stripe. CBU is shooting 78.6% at the free-throw line, the 20th-best mark in the NCAA this season. On seven different occasions, the Lancers has hit over 80% from the line in a single game. CBU converted a DI single-game program record 35 free throws against Kennesaw State on November 9 and also knocked down 30 free throws against Jackson State in late December.
GAME INFORMATION:
CBU vs Seattle U
DATE/TIME: Jan. 4 @5 PM PT
LOCATION: Fowler Events Center- Riverside, CA
WATCH: ESPN+
Stater Bros. Holiday Series:
Sports fans in the Inland Empire can visit select Stater Bros. Markets locations located in Riverside, CA, to pick up special discount ticket vouchers containing a QR code to access the offer for five different Holiday Series home games. The regular price for individual tickets is $10 for each game, but with the discount voucher, tickets are only $5 each. A special package deal for admission to all five games in the series is also available for $21 for general admission seating and $36 for reserved seating.
5-GAME TICKET PACKAGES CAN BE PURCHASED HERE: www.cbulancers.com/holiday
