The California Baptist Lancers dominated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 83-66, with Dominique Daniels Jr. scoring 32 points to lead his team to victory. California Baptist improved their record to 19-6, while Southern Utah fell to 8-17. The Lancers' 17-point margin of victory exceeded the predicted margin of 11.6 points by the CHD Scout model. Daniels Jr.'s 32 points were complemented by Martel Williams' 19 points and 11 rebounds, as the Lancers outscored the Thunderbirds 43-36 in the first half.
Dominique Daniels Jr. Scores 32 Points, Including 5 Three-Pointers
The game unfolded with California Baptist taking an early lead, scoring 43 points in the first half to Southern Utah's 36. The Lancers maintained their lead throughout the second half, scoring 40 points to the Thunderbirds' 30. Isaiah Cottrell led Southern Utah with 24 points, but it was not enough to overcome the Lancers' strong performance. The Thunderbirds' Elijah Duval added 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Jaiden Feroah scored 10 points. California Baptist's Jonathan Griman chipped in with 12 points and 5 rebounds, helping his team secure the 17-point victory. At halftime, California Baptist held a 7-point lead, which they expanded to 17 points by the end of the game.
The top performers for both teams were impressive, with Dominique Daniels Jr. leading California Baptist with 32 points. Martel Williams added 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jonathan Griman scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. For Southern Utah, Isaiah Cottrell scored 24 points, followed by Elijah Duval's 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Jaiden Feroah's 10 points. Daniels Jr.'s 32 points were the highest scoring total of the game, and his performance helped California Baptist secure the win. Williams' 11 rebounds led all players, and Griman's 12 points were a key contribution to the Lancers' victory.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The box score revealed several key statistical takeaways from the game. California Baptist outscored Southern Utah 83-66, with a 43-36 advantage in the first half and a 40-30 advantage in the second half. The Lancers' Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 32 points, while Martel Williams added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Southern Utah's Isaiah Cottrell led his team with 24 points, and Elijah Duval scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Lancers' 17-point margin of victory was fueled by their strong shooting and rebounding performance, as they outrebounded the Thunderbirds 37-29.
The CHD Scout model predicted a California Baptist victory by 11.6 points, with a predicted score of 68-79. The actual result was a 17-point victory for the Lancers, exceeding the predicted margin. The model correctly predicted the winner, but underestimated the margin of victory. The CHD Scout model's prediction was based on the teams' respective NET rankings, with California Baptist ranked 109th and Southern Utah ranked 292nd. The model's correct prediction reflects the significant difference in the teams' NET rankings and their relative strengths.
The victory improved California Baptist's record to 19-6, while Southern Utah fell to 8-17. The game was a Quadrant 4 game for California Baptist and a Quadrant 3 game for Southern Utah. The Lancers' 17-point victory will help strengthen their NET ranking, currently at 109. The Thunderbirds' loss will likely drop their NET ranking, currently at 292. The game's outcome has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, as California Baptist seeks to solidify its position and Southern Utah tries to improve its standing.
California Baptist's next game is scheduled for February 15th against the Utah Valley Wolverines, while Southern Utah will face the Tarleton State Texans on February 15th. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with California Baptist seeking to extend its winning streak and Southern Utah trying to bounce back from the loss.