ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference clash defined by defensive pressure and offensive frustration, the Texas-Arlington Mavericks used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the California Baptist Lancers, 63-51, on Thursday afternoon at College Park Center.

The Mavericks, improving to 9-5 overall, turned 16 California Baptist turnovers into 17 points and held the Lancers to a season-low offensive output in front of an announced crowd of 841. California Baptist, which entered the game as a slight favorite, fell to 10-5.

The game’s pivotal shift came after halftime. Texas-Arlington led by just two points, 28-26, at the break in a grinding, low-percentage affair. The Mavericks emerged from the locker room with intensified defensive energy, sparking a decisive 17-4 run over a seven-minute span in the second half. That surge transformed a narrow 38-36 edge into a commanding 55-40 lead with just over eight minutes remaining, a margin the Lancers could not seriously threaten.

California Baptist’s offense, which had averaged over 73 points per game, never found a rhythm. The Lancers shot just 40.4% from the field and a frigid 23.1% from three-point range. Their struggles were compounded by a stark disparity in ball movement and free throws. Texas-Arlington dished out 12 assists to California Baptist’s 4 and capitalized at the foul line, making 20 of 23 attempts compared to the Lancers’ 10 of 14.

The Mavericks’ defensive identity was the story. They recorded 12 steals, led by the active hands of Raysean Seamster and Marcell McCreary, and blocked three shots. This harassment disrupted California Baptist’s sets and led to numerous transition opportunities, where Texas-Arlington held a 14-5 advantage in fastbreak points.

Dominique Daniels was the lone consistent offensive threat for California Baptist. The guard from Compton, California, scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including three three-pointers. Martel Williams added 12 points for the Lancers, but no other player reached double figures.

Texas-Arlington’s victory was a balanced effort. Seamster, a 6-foot-8 forward from Portland, Oregon, filled the stat sheet with 13 points, three assists, a block and three steals. McCreary, from Fort Worth, Texas, matched Seamster’s 13 points and added two assists, a block and four steals. The bench provided a crucial spark, notably from Bahsil Laster, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half, including a key three-pointer and perfect 6-for-6 shooting from the free-throw line to help seal the game.

Point guard Casmir Chavis orchestrated the Maverick offense with five assists and contributed defensively with a block and two steals.

The first half was a slog, with both teams combining for 20 turnovers. California Baptist’s largest lead was four points early, but Texas-Arlington’s persistent defense kept them within reach. Daniels hit a step-back three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to pull the Lancers within two, setting the stage for the Mavericks’ second-half takeover.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for California Baptist in conference play. Texas-Arlington, coming off a loss to Tarleton State, avoided starting its WAC schedule with consecutive defeats.

According to the Interstat ELO system, California Baptist had been projected with a 53.3% probability to win and was installed as a 1-point pregame favorite. The total score of 114 points fell well under the over/under line of 135.5.

California Baptist looks to rebound quickly, traveling to face Tarleton State on Saturday. Texas-Arlington continues its homestand with a game against Southern Utah on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Arlington on Jan. 31.