LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — California Baptist used a dominant second half to pull away from Utah Tech for an 86-72 victory in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Friday at Orleans Arena. The Lancers, who trailed 36-35 at halftime, outscored the Trailblazers 51-36 after intermission. The win improved California Baptist’s record to 24-8 overall. Utah Tech fell to 19-15. A crowd of 1,474 watched the Lancers sweep the three-game season series. California Baptist was a 5 1/2-point pregame favorite, and the total score went over the projected line of 137 1/2.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference tournament clash defined by a second-half surge, California Baptist pulled away from Utah Tech for an 86-72 victory Friday night at Orleans Arena. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,474, was a tale of two halves. Utah Tech, the visiting Trailblazers, executed their game plan effectively in the opening period, taking a 36-35 lead into the locker room behind the interior dominance of forward Ethan Potter. The Lancers, however, emerged from halftime with a different level of intensity, particularly on the defensive end, and unleashed a 51-point second half to secure the win and advance. The most important part of the game was unquestionably the opening 10 minutes of the second half, where California Baptist transformed a one-point deficit into a commanding double-digit lead. The Lancers came out of the break on a 17-6 run, spearheaded by the explosive scoring of guard Dominique Daniels. The Compton, California, native scored 11 points during that pivotal stretch, hitting a trio of difficult jump shots and getting to the free-throw line. His personal 7-0 run, capped by a driving layup and a subsequent three-point play after being fouled on a jumper, stretched the Lancers’ lead to 52-41 and forced a Utah Tech timeout with 15:33 remaining. Utah Tech never recovered from that blitz. The Lancers’ defense, which had allowed Utah Tech to shoot efficiently in the first half, tightened considerably, forcing rushed shots and turnovers that fueled their transition game. California Baptist scored 18 points off Utah Tech turnovers for the game, with many coming during this decisive period. The Lancers also established a pronounced advantage in the paint, outscoring the Trailblazers 44-30, as their physicality wore down Utah Tech as the game progressed. Daniels finished as the game’s standout performer, pouring in 41 points in 38 minutes of action. He was efficient from all levels, attacking the rim, hitting step-back three-pointers, and converting at the free-throw line. His backcourt mate, Jayden Jackson of Milwaukee, provided crucial support with 19 points, including several timely three-pointers that helped extinguish any fleeting momentum Utah Tech tried to build. For Utah Tech, the loss ends a season that finishes at 19-15. The Trailblazers were led by a stellar effort from Ethan Potter of Layton, Utah, who scored 25 points on a variety of post moves and mid-range jumpers. Jusaun Holt added 16 points and five assists, and Chance Trujillo contributed 15 points, but the team’s offense stagnated in the face of California Baptist’s heightened defensive pressure in the second half, scoring an identical 36 points in each half while the Lancers accelerated. The victory improves California Baptist’s record to 24-8 and sends them deeper into the conference tournament bracket. The Lancers, who were installed as 5.5-point pregame favorites and had a 75% probability to win according to statistical models, will look to carry the momentum from their dominant second-half performance into their next contest. The teams had split two regular-season meetings, with each winning on their home floor, but California Baptist’s performance in the neutral-site setting proved superior when it mattered most. The total points scored, 158, surpassed the over/under line of 137.5, largely due to the offensive explosion from California Baptist after halftime. The game was a showcase for Daniels, who continued a remarkable stretch of high-scoring performances, having posted 32 and 22 points in his two previous outings. For Utah Tech, the season concludes with a defeat, but not before putting forth a resilient first-half effort that was ultimately overwhelmed by the Lancers’ firepower and defensive adjustment after the break.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — A Western Athletic Conference tournament semifinal showdown on Friday pits the steady success of California Baptist against a Utah Tech team that has played its best against the league’s top seed. The seeded Lancers (23-8) and the seeded Trailblazers (19-14) meet at Orleans Arena with a trip to the WAC championship game on the line. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT. California Baptist, which earned a double-bye into the semifinals, enters as a significant favorite. National Statistical’s ELO system gives the Lancers a 75.2% probability to win, and they have been installed as 5.5-point favorites. The over/under is 137.5. The teams split their regular-season series, each winning on its home floor. Most notably, Utah Tech upset the then-conference-leading Lancers 70-65 in St. George on Feb. 14. The Trailblazers will need a similar defensive effort, as California Baptist boasts one of the league’s most potent offenses, averaging over 75 points per game. The matchup features two of the WAC’s premier scorers. Utah Tech is led by forward Ethan Potter, who is coming off a 25-point performance in Thursday’s 80-74 quarterfinal win over Abilene Christian. Over his last seven games, Potter is averaging 18.7 points. California Baptist counters with dynamic guard Dominique Daniels, the league’s leading scorer. Daniels poured in 32 points in the Lancers’ regular-season finale at Southern Utah on March 7 and scored 29 in the loss at Utah Tech last month. His ability to create offense will be central to CBU’s plans. The Lancers have been the model of consistency, losing just once since that Feb. 14 defeat—a road loss at Utah Valley. Utah Tech’s path has been more turbulent, featuring several narrow victories and overtime contests, including a double-overtime loss to Utah Valley on March 7. The Trailblazers’ resilience, however, has them one win away from playing for an NCAA tournament berth. The winner will advance to Saturday’s WAC championship game to face either seed Tarleton State or seed Seattle U.