LAS VEGAS โ In an intense quarterfinal matchup of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, California Baptist emerged victorious over Tarleton State, cementing a 55-51 triumph on Thursday night.
The Lancers, holding the third seed, improved their season record to 17-14 and are set to face the second-seeded Grand Canyon team in a semifinal clash on Friday. Meanwhile, top-seed Utah Valley will be battling it out with the fifth-seeded Seattle University in the other semifinal matchup.
Key to California Baptistโs victory was Dominique Daniels Jr., who scored 13 points, going 6 for 18 from the field, and netting 1 out of 7 from the three-point range. Teammate Tylen Riley contributed 10 points along with six assists and three steals, while Martel Williams added nine points with a shooting performance of 4 for 12, including one three-pointer out of six attempts.
On the side of the sixth-seeded Texans, Dantwan Grimes was the standout player, securing 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Freddy Hicks bolstered the teamโs efforts with 13 points, and Keitenn Bristow chipped in 12 points alongside two significant blocks.
California Baptist took an early lead into halftime, 30-21, with Riley notably scoring 10 points in the opening half. The gameโs pivotal moment occurred when Adam Moussa sank a crucial 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the contest, securing a lead that the Lancers would not relinquish, ending the game 53-51 in favor of California Baptist.