CBU Grabs Victory Over New Mexico Highlands

No. 4 California Baptist University came out firing on all cylinders Saturday night, powering through to a 95-63 victory over New Mexico Highlands. The win puts the Lancers at 8-1 heading into PacWest action next week. The Cowboys drop to 1-5 on the year with their fifth-straight loss. "I think we learned a lot from getting beat down in San Diego," said head coach Rick Croy about the Lancers' first loss of the season to UC San Diego on Tuesday. "We didn't pout or feel sorry for ourselves. We feel like they outcompeted us and realized there are some things we need to keep getting better at. "We came back to work and our work showed up these last two nights," added Croy. "We're playing good ball. Now we have to get ready for conference." Five players finished the night in double figures for CBU, led by Michael Smith with 19 points (8-for-13). After setting a career-high 14 points last night, Alexander Birketoft matched it Saturday on 5-for-7 shooting. Gelaun Wheelwright also chipped in 14 points (4-for-15), while Taj Spencer (5-for-6) and Jordan Giusti (3-for-6) contributed respective 12 and 11 points. "All of our guys are getting better," said Croy. "Obviously we need to keep getting better as a team, but individually guys have to keep improving as well. I think our guys are doing that." CBU — which had once again out-rebounded its opponent, 42-to-35, led by Smith's efforts. The junior was just one board shy of a double-double, finishing the night with nine off the glass. The Cowboys opened with two free throws, but the Lancers responded with 10-straight points. Wheelwright initiated the run by sinking one of his three triples, while Smith followed by driving to the basket after he stole it away. NMUH cut within four points, 10-6, but CBU burst open the lead on another double-digit run, this time scoring 13 unanswered points. Giusti got it started with two free throws and Wheelwright forced a turnover in the next play to put Smith on the counter attack. He drew a foul on the play and finished his shot at the line for the and-one. Giusti capped the run by draining a three from the corner to put CBU in front 23-6. It wasn't long before the Lancers broke into 30-point territory as Giusti drove through traffic to the basket and laid it in to give his team a 55-24 cushion, but the Cowboys scored two points to go into halftime down 55-26. Coming out of halftime, the visitors tried to claw their way back into the game and sliced CBU's lead down to 21 points in the first four minutes of the second half. Kalidou Diouf powered his way to the basket off an assist from Marquise Mosley and drew a foul in the process. The sophomore finished his shot from the charity stripe, putting CBU on an 8-0 run. Wheelwright found an open Birketoft in the paint with 12 minutes to go, bringing the margin back up to 30 points, 70-40. Try as they may, the Cowboys couldn't seem to contain the Lancers and never saw the margin drop below 24 points for the remainder of the game. Michael Robinson gave the Lancers their biggest lead of the night by rattling in a three off an assist from Jordan Heading, 91-57. With two minutes left on the clock, the game was all but over as CBU coasted to a 95-63 victory. The Lancers remain at home as they open PacWest action on Thursday, hosting Dixie State at 7:00 p.m. CBU then turns right around to take on Azusa Pacific on the road on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. "We take each game one at a time," said Croy. "We try to focus on the first opponent first and then worry about the second after that. Our guys are pretty disciplined in their mindset in regards to one game at a time. They're all worth one and you have to bring a good effort every night. The PacWest is really strong.”