California Baptist Advances in WAC Tournament with Narrow Win Over Tarleton State

LAS VEGAS, NV — The California Baptist University Lancers pulled off a thrilling 55-51 victory against the Tarleton State Texans in a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night, securing a place in the semifinals for the first time in program history.

The third-seeded Lancers (17-14) faced the sixth-seeded Texans (12-20) at Orleans Arena, where they will now move on to face No. 2 seed Grand Canyon University in a semifinal showdown scheduled for Friday at 8:30 p.m. CBU had previously lost in the quarterfinals for two straight seasons.

Dominique Daniels Jr. led the Lancers with 13 points, despite shooting 6 of 18 from the field. He also contributed six assists and three steals. Tylan Riley added 10 points and provided key support throughout the game.

Tarleton State’s Dantwan Grimes topped the scoreboard with 16 points, including crucial plays as the Texans fought back in the second half. Freddy Hicks and Keitenn Bristow chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The game remained close throughout, with the Lancers taking a 30-21 lead into halftime. However, Tarleton State cut the deficit to just a point in the closing minutes, igniting a tense finish. The Texans executed a 12-5 run to claim a 51-50 lead following a layup from Grimes with just over a minute remaining.

In a pivotal moment, CBU’s Adam Moussa responded with a critical three-pointer, giving the Lancers a lead they would not relinquish. Moussa, who transferred from Tarleton State, showcased both skill and poise under pressure. “I just took the shot and trusted my instinct,” said Moussa, reflecting on the decisive play.

Coleman sealed the game for CBU, sinking two free throws in the final seconds after grabbing an important offensive rebound, underscoring CBU’s 39-26 advantage on the boards.

Grabbing attention, CBU only converted nine second-chance points despite their rebounding dominance, showing areas for improvement heading into the semifinals.

The stakes are high for California Baptist as they prepare to take on Grand Canyon University, a team with whom they split the regular season matchup, with each team winning on its home court. The anticipation for their semifinal clash is building, as CBU seeks to continue its tournament momentum.