Preview: California Baptist Lancers at Utah Valley Wolverines VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — A clash of Western Athletic Conference frontrunners is set for Monday night as the California Baptist Lancers visit the Utah Valley Wolverines at the UCCU Center. Both teams enter the matchup with identical 10-3 records, making this an early-season barometer for the WAC race. The game tips off at 7 p.m. MST on Dec. 29. California Baptist brings a three-game winning streak to Orem, most recently defeating Sacramento State 74-67 on Dec. 20. Guard Martel Williams has been a consistent force for the Lancers, averaging 14.0 points over his last six games, including a 23-point performance in a road win at Eastern Washington on Dec. 12. The Lancers’ three losses this season have all come on the road against Power Five opponents: Utah, BYU and Colorado. Utah Valley counters with a six-game winning streak, fueled by dominant home victories. The Wolverines are coming off a 109-48 rout of Bethesda on Dec. 20. Forward Jackson Holcombe has been a versatile standout during the streak, averaging 15.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over the last six contests. His recent performances include an 18-point, 5-assist outing against Weber State and a 19-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist line at Bowling Green. The matchup pits California Baptist’s resilience against Utah Valley’s home-court dominance. The Lancers have proven capable in tight road games, while the Wolverines have won their last four home games by an average of 28.5 points. This contest opens a critical two-game conference road swing for California Baptist, which travels to face Texas-Arlington on Jan. 1. Utah Valley begins its WAC schedule on the road at Tarleton State on Jan. 1. Monday’s winner will seize early momentum in the conference standings and claim a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker.