Red-Hot Start Paves the Way for CBU's Fifth Straight Win

Friday, November 21

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

5-0,0-0WAC

Grambling State University

3-3,0-0SWAC

Grambling

California Baptist

Photo by: Ella DuPree

Red-Hot Start Paves the Way for CBU's Fifth Straight Win

11/21/2025 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Matt Horrocks, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications and Digital Media

RIVERSIDE --- The Lancers stormed out of the gate with fury on Friday night, as they wrapped up their final home game of November against Grambling State. A dominant first half was followed by a nail-biting second, but the Lancers held on to their lead, securing a 72-59 win that keeps CBU unbeaten.

CBU is 5-0 to open the year, matching the best start in the program's Division I history.

"We have great synergy," said head coach Rick Croy on what's been working early in the season. "That comes from our guys. We have good players, really good players, that all support each other. That's a big deal. When somebody goes down, the next guy steps up. They enjoy seeing each other have success, and if you have that, you want to seize it. You want to take advantage of it."

The synergy showed on Friday, as nine Lancers scored. Martel Williams led the attack with 17 points on 6-of-10 from the field. Williams knocked down one triple, sank 4-of-5 from the charity stripe, and paired four rebounds with three assists.

Jayden Jackson knocked down the first bucket of the night for the Lancers, a 3-pointer on CBU's opening possession. The shots continued to fall for the Lancers, as they charged to a 20-3 run in the opening half in which CBU connected on 9-of-9 from the field.

Hot start 👌#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GcD7TMBOXK
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) November 22, 2025

The Lancers converted on 17-of-24 in the opening half, posting a 71 percent shooting performance to power them into the locker room leading 40-22.

"We're just trying to get better," added Croy. "I think what we're trying to do is look at segments of the game where we can move some things to the right, and a lot of that has to do with our defensive focus and controlling the things we can control. Some of those things showed up tonight."

As the teams entered the break, momentum was subtly on the side of GSU, as they entered the locker room on a 6-0 run. The momentum grew as the second half began, with GSU posting an 8-0 run over the first four minutes of the second half. The Lancers finally scored their first basket of the half with 15:49 remaining in regulation.

Grambling connected on 56 percent from the field in the second half, a 30 percent improvement from the opening 20 minutes. The Lancers posted a 46 percent performance in the second half, as they ended the night shooting 59 percent from the field.

"In the second half, we weren't quite able to play with the same discipline," noted Croy. "But we still played hard."

The Lancers won the rebound battle for the fifth time this season, as they outrebounded GSU 32-22. Jackson led the way with seven boards, and Jonathan Griman posted six.

Griman ended the night with ten points, while Jackson and Dominique Daniels Jr. ended with nine each.

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The 5-0 start for CBU matches the best start in the program's Division I era, as only the 2021-22 Lancers posted an equal record to open the season. CBU will next take the court on Tuesday against San Diego, with sights on a sixth consecutive win.

Tuesday's win will come inside the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, as CBU returns to the Acrisure Series. Tip-off with the Toreros is slated for 3:30 p.m. The Lancers will return to Riverside on December 16 to host Southern.