Preview: Seed Hopes on Line as Utah Valley Hosts California Baptist VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — A critical Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball showdown with postseason seeding implications is set for Thursday when Utah Valley hosts California Baptist at the UCCU Center. Both teams enter with nearly identical records and plenty to prove. The Lancers (19-7, 8-3 WAC) sit just ahead of the Wolverines (18-7, 7-4) in the conference standings. The winner will secure a vital tiebreaker and solidify its position for a top-two seed in the upcoming WAC tournament. The matchup features a compelling rematch from just over three weeks ago, when California Baptist outlasted Utah Valley 78-71 in overtime in Riverside on Jan. 24. Lancers guard Dominique Daniels was spectacular in that victory, pouring in a career-high 47 points. Daniels enters on a torrid scoring streak, averaging 27.1 points over his last seven games, including a 32-point performance in a win at Southern Utah on Feb. 12. Utah Valley will counter with its own standout guard, Jackson Holcombe, who scored 22 points in the first meeting. Holcombe is coming off a 20-point, 5-assist effort in a road loss to Utah Tech on Feb. 12. The Wolverines have been strong at home this season and will look to avenge the earlier overtime defeat. California Baptist is looking to rebound from a 70-65 road loss at Utah Tech on Saturday, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Utah Valley also seeks to get back on track after its loss at Utah Tech last week halted a three-game win streak. The game will be a battle of efficiency. The Lancers have leaned heavily on Daniels’ offensive brilliance, while the Wolverines have utilized a more balanced attack, with four players averaging double figures in conference play. With the regular season winding down, Thursday’s contest is pivotal. A Utah Valley win would forge a virtual tie in the loss column and split the season series. A California Baptist victory would give the Lancers a sweep and a firm grip on second place. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at the UCCU Center.