MONMOUTH, Ore. – For the second-straight year, California Baptist and Azusa Pacific won in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional. No. 3. CBU outlasted No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona, 70-63, in the first game of the day. No. 5 Azusa Pacific knocked off No. 4 Seattle Pacific, 77-66.
CBU will play No. 2 UC San Diego in the semifinals on Thursday at 5 p.m. APU will take on No. 1 Western Oregon at 7:30 p.m.
The Lancer duo of
Gelaun Wheelwright and
Michael Smith excelled again, scoring 21 and 20 points, respectively. CBU had a tight battle with CPP, trailing by two at half and by three with just under six minutes left. Smith and Wheelwright each scored five points in a 10-2 run that put the Lancers ahead for good.
APU closed the first half with a 16-0 run and never trailed from there.
Corey Langerveld led the way with 17 points, followed by
Lydell Cardwell with 14 and
Connor Peterson with 11.