Tuesday, November 3
Riverside, Calif.
7:00 PM
California Baptist University
vs
University of North Florida
Photo by: Matt Horrocks
11/2/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- The start of the 2026-27 college basketball season has arrived, with California Baptist set to begin a new era of the program on Tuesday night. In the first-ever game under coach Kyle Getter, the Lancers welcome the North Florida Ospreys for an opening night meeting inside the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center.
Getter, named the second head coach of the Lancers' Division I era back in April, gets his first chance to showcase his program, which features five returners and ten newcomers. Returning from last season's March Madness team are G Odartey Blankson, F Rene D'Amelio, G Jalen Dollar, G Jordan Muller, and G Justas Stonkus.
"Those five guys, I couldn't be more excited, and humbled really, that they decided to trust me and stay," said Getter on his returning five. "I'm looking forward to them because they were here last year on a 25-win team. They know what winning looks like."
The new-look Lancers had one formal dress rehearsal before opening the season: an October 21 scrimmage against UCLA inside historic Pauley Pavilion. Muller, along with freshman Steven Reynolds III, led the Lancers with ten points apiece. Stonkus and guard Ethan Duncan both added eight.
"We have a roster full of depth," added Getter on the look of his team. "My hope is that we'll be really hard to play against on the defensive end. We'll play pack line defense. I coached that with coach (Tony) Bennett at the University of Virginia, where we led the country in fewest points allowed three of the five seasons I was there."
On the offensive side, Getter added, "My job is to put them in situations where they can maximize their personal talents. We're going to shoot a lot of threes. We're going to play fast offensively. First comes discipline, then comes freedom. We're going to be really disciplined."
It will have been 243 days since the Lancers last competed inside the Fowler Events Center, a setting that has served the Lancers well over the last year and a half. CBU finished 15-0 at home last season, and dating back to the 2024-25 campaign, the Lancers have won 19 in a row at home.
Entering Tuesday night, the Lancers own the seventh-longest active home winning streak in Division I.
Looking to end that streak is an opponent brand new to the Lancers' schedule, North Florida. Making their first-ever appearance inside the Fowler Events Center, the Ospreys enter year two under coach Bobby Kennen and are coming off a 7-25 season a year ago. The Ospreys have built a challenging schedule to start the season, taking on three straight teams from last season's NCAA Tournament. Following Tuesday, UNF will visit UCLA (Nov. 6) and Miami (Nov. 9).
The Ospreys return nearly 40 percent of their scoring from last season, including guard Kent Jackson, who knocked down 106 3-pointers and averaged 14.8 PPG. Three-point shooting is a strength of the Ospreys, as they ended last year eighth in the nation with 11.0 made three per game. UNF owns the longest active streak in Division I of five or more made threes with 129.
Limited tickets to Tuesday's game are available for purchase HERE. Fans who cannot make it out to the Fowler Events Center can tune in on ESPN+, with tip-off coming at 7 p.m. Following Tuesday's home tilt, the Lancers will travel north to visit Oregon State on Friday night.
The Lancers will return to their home court next week for a pair of games against Chicago State (Nov. 11) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (Nov. 13).
Getter, named the second head coach of the Lancers' Division I era back in April, gets his first chance to showcase his program, which features five returners and ten newcomers. Returning from last season's March Madness team are G Odartey Blankson, F Rene D'Amelio, G Jalen Dollar, G Jordan Muller, and G Justas Stonkus.
"Those five guys, I couldn't be more excited, and humbled really, that they decided to trust me and stay," said Getter on his returning five. "I'm looking forward to them because they were here last year on a 25-win team. They know what winning looks like."
The new-look Lancers had one formal dress rehearsal before opening the season: an October 21 scrimmage against UCLA inside historic Pauley Pavilion. Muller, along with freshman Steven Reynolds III, led the Lancers with ten points apiece. Stonkus and guard Ethan Duncan both added eight.
"We have a roster full of depth," added Getter on the look of his team. "My hope is that we'll be really hard to play against on the defensive end. We'll play pack line defense. I coached that with coach (Tony) Bennett at the University of Virginia, where we led the country in fewest points allowed three of the five seasons I was there."
On the offensive side, Getter added, "My job is to put them in situations where they can maximize their personal talents. We're going to shoot a lot of threes. We're going to play fast offensively. First comes discipline, then comes freedom. We're going to be really disciplined."
It will have been 243 days since the Lancers last competed inside the Fowler Events Center, a setting that has served the Lancers well over the last year and a half. CBU finished 15-0 at home last season, and dating back to the 2024-25 campaign, the Lancers have won 19 in a row at home.
Entering Tuesday night, the Lancers own the seventh-longest active home winning streak in Division I.
Looking to end that streak is an opponent brand new to the Lancers' schedule, North Florida. Making their first-ever appearance inside the Fowler Events Center, the Ospreys enter year two under coach Bobby Kennen and are coming off a 7-25 season a year ago. The Ospreys have built a challenging schedule to start the season, taking on three straight teams from last season's NCAA Tournament. Following Tuesday, UNF will visit UCLA (Nov. 6) and Miami (Nov. 9).
The Ospreys return nearly 40 percent of their scoring from last season, including guard Kent Jackson, who knocked down 106 3-pointers and averaged 14.8 PPG. Three-point shooting is a strength of the Ospreys, as they ended last year eighth in the nation with 11.0 made three per game. UNF owns the longest active streak in Division I of five or more made threes with 129.
Limited tickets to Tuesday's game are available for purchase HERE. Fans who cannot make it out to the Fowler Events Center can tune in on ESPN+, with tip-off coming at 7 p.m. Following Tuesday's home tilt, the Lancers will travel north to visit Oregon State on Friday night.
The Lancers will return to their home court next week for a pair of games against Chicago State (Nov. 11) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (Nov. 13).
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