California Baptist University
Abilene Christian University
MBB Preview: CBU Looks to Sweep Season Series with ACU on Thursday
1/28/2025 12:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's basketball team will only have one game on the docket this week as they host the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Thursday night in the Fowler Events Center.
The Lancers are currently sitting in a three-way tie for third place in the Western Athletic Conference standings at 3-3 and are coming off a wire-to-wire victory in Cedar City on Saturday against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Meanwhile, the visiting Wildcats are 1-5 in league play, with its lone win coming against in-state rival Tarleton on Thursday night in Moody Coliseum.
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two programs, with the Lancers earning its first-ever win in Abilene on January 18 by a final score of 60-54. In that game, the Lancers overcame a tough shooting night and, thanks to heroics from Dominique Daniels Jr. and Javonte Johnson, would surge ahead of the Wildcats for the team's first conference road win of the season. The all-time series between these two clubs is all tied up at three wins apiece, and their record when playing in Riverside is likewise even with one win each.
The statline to watch will be turnovers with Abilene Christian as they continue to be one of the most disruptive teams in the country this season. The Wildcats are eighth in the NCAA in forcing turnovers and are consequently also in the top ten ranks in steals per game with ten per contest. ACU forced 17 turnovers in the last meeting with CBU and has forced double-digit turnovers in all but one game this season. The Lancers have been very solid at taking care of the ball, leading the conference in the fewest turnovers per game at just 11.3 per contest.
CBU still boasts one of the most dynamic scorers in the game and the conference in Daniels Jr., who led the Lancers in their previous meeting with ACU, scoring 17 points in 35 minutes. Daniels Jr. is 14th in the NCAA in scoring this season, scoring 20 points per game, and 21st in total points with 401. Daniels Jr. has scored 20 points in half of the Lancer's games this season and, outside of an anomaly against Southern Utah last week, has scored at least 15 points in every game in 2024-25.
GAME INFORMATION:
CBU vs Abilene Christian
DATE/TIME: Jan. 30 @7 PM PT
LOCATION: Fowler Events Center- Riverside, CA
WATCH: ESPN+
