Saturday, January 24
Riverside, Calif.
5:00 PM
California Baptist University
15-6,5-3WAC
78
vs
71
Utah Valley University
15-6,5-3WAC
1
2
OT 1
F
Utah Valley
28
37
6
71
California Baptist
24
41
13
78
Photo by: Jonathan Vivanco
Daniels Jr.’s Historic Night Lifts the Lancers to Victory
1/24/2026 9:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- The record book for California Baptist men's basketball is due for a rewrite, thanks to the historic night of Dominique Daniels Jr. With Utah Valley in town for Star Wars Night, a crowd of nearly 4,000 fans were treated to the greatest scoring performance in the university's history.
"We have some built up competitive scar tissue and we relied on it tonight," said head coach Rick Croy after his team's 78-71 overtime win. "We always talk about deserving victory and earning victory. We stayed with it tonight. This was big for us."
Daniels Jr. entered the night as the owner of the Division I single-game record, a 39-point performance he posted two seasons ago. On Saturday he shattered his own record while grabbing a new one, a record that stood since 1971, as Daniels Jr. scored 47 points to establish a new all-time single-game record.
The previous mark of 46 was owned by Ron Moreland (1971) and Bud Hjalmarson (1970).
Daniels Jr. also matched the program record of 18 made free throws, set in 1971 by Dave Strother, and free throws attempted (21), surpassing the record (19) set by Luke Evans in 2011.
"He has the biggest heart I've ever coached," added Croy on Daniels Jr. "I always remind myself to never take him for granted. He means the world to this program and the entire Inland Empire. He's an inspiration."
Of his 47 points, no two were bigger than the driving layup Daniels Jr. connected on with less than five seconds remaining in regulation. The Lancers led by one with 15 seconds to go after a pair of free throws from Daniels Jr., but on the following UVU possession, a foul in the corner gave the Wolverines three attempts at the charity stripe. Tyler Henricks hit all three, giving UVU a two-point lead, forcing CBU to run the length of the court to stay in the game.
The runner was good, extending the game to overtime, where Daniels Jr. scored ten of his 47 points. The second half was also pure domination, as the graduate guard connected on 7-of-11 from the field for 27 points in the second 20-minute period.
CBU used a 13-4 run in the overtime period to pull away from the Wolverines, sending the home fans into an uproar with the big time WAC victory.
Saturday's win will likely go down as the game of the year, as the nail-biting contest saw neither team take a lead larger than six points in regulation. Utah Valley led at halftime, 28-24, and saw their largest lead of the game hit six points with 16:55 remaining in the second half.
The Wolverines were led by Jackson Holcombe who scored 22 points on 7-of-21 from the field and 8-for-11 at the line.
Nine different Lancers scored in Saturday's win, but Daniels Jr. was the only player to finish in double-figures. Thomas Ndong led the way in rebounding with 10, as CBU outrebounded UVU 39-35.
Saturday's victory moved CBU into a tie with Utah Valley in the WAC standings. Both teams are now 5-3, tied for second behind UT Arlington who did not play and remains 5-2. CBU will play UT Arlington next weekend in Texas.
The win also keeps CBU unbeaten at home, giving the Lancers a 10-0 mark inside the Fowler Events Center, extending the program's streak of double-digit home win seasons to seven. CBU has won 14 in a row at home dating back to last season.
CBU will return to action in Arlington on January 31 and will be back in Riverside on February 5 to take on Tarleton State.
"We have some built up competitive scar tissue and we relied on it tonight," said head coach Rick Croy after his team's 78-71 overtime win. "We always talk about deserving victory and earning victory. We stayed with it tonight. This was big for us."
Daniels Jr. entered the night as the owner of the Division I single-game record, a 39-point performance he posted two seasons ago. On Saturday he shattered his own record while grabbing a new one, a record that stood since 1971, as Daniels Jr. scored 47 points to establish a new all-time single-game record.
The previous mark of 46 was owned by Ron Moreland (1971) and Bud Hjalmarson (1970).
Daniels Jr. also matched the program record of 18 made free throws, set in 1971 by Dave Strother, and free throws attempted (21), surpassing the record (19) set by Luke Evans in 2011.
"He has the biggest heart I've ever coached," added Croy on Daniels Jr. "I always remind myself to never take him for granted. He means the world to this program and the entire Inland Empire. He's an inspiration."
Of his 47 points, no two were bigger than the driving layup Daniels Jr. connected on with less than five seconds remaining in regulation. The Lancers led by one with 15 seconds to go after a pair of free throws from Daniels Jr., but on the following UVU possession, a foul in the corner gave the Wolverines three attempts at the charity stripe. Tyler Henricks hit all three, giving UVU a two-point lead, forcing CBU to run the length of the court to stay in the game.
The runner was good, extending the game to overtime, where Daniels Jr. scored ten of his 47 points. The second half was also pure domination, as the graduate guard connected on 7-of-11 from the field for 27 points in the second 20-minute period.
CBU used a 13-4 run in the overtime period to pull away from the Wolverines, sending the home fans into an uproar with the big time WAC victory.
Saturday's win will likely go down as the game of the year, as the nail-biting contest saw neither team take a lead larger than six points in regulation. Utah Valley led at halftime, 28-24, and saw their largest lead of the game hit six points with 16:55 remaining in the second half.
The Wolverines were led by Jackson Holcombe who scored 22 points on 7-of-21 from the field and 8-for-11 at the line.
Nine different Lancers scored in Saturday's win, but Daniels Jr. was the only player to finish in double-figures. Thomas Ndong led the way in rebounding with 10, as CBU outrebounded UVU 39-35.
Saturday's victory moved CBU into a tie with Utah Valley in the WAC standings. Both teams are now 5-3, tied for second behind UT Arlington who did not play and remains 5-2. CBU will play UT Arlington next weekend in Texas.
The win also keeps CBU unbeaten at home, giving the Lancers a 10-0 mark inside the Fowler Events Center, extending the program's streak of double-digit home win seasons to seven. CBU has won 14 in a row at home dating back to last season.
CBU will return to action in Arlington on January 31 and will be back in Riverside on February 5 to take on Tarleton State.
Team Stats
UVU
CBU
FG%
.377
.481
3FG%
.100
.429
FT%
.719
.710
RB
35
39
TO
14
17
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Pts
47
FGM
13
3FGM
3
FTM
18
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball Highlights vs GCU
Saturday, February 08
