RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — Dominique Daniels scored 22 points and California Baptist overwhelmed Abilene Christian from the opening tip, cruising to an 87-48 victory in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at CBU Events Center.

The Lancers, who led by 30 at halftime, improved to 22-8 overall and solidified their position near the top of the conference standings. The Wildcats fell to 13-17 with their second consecutive lopsided defeat.

The most important part of the game was its decisive start, as California Baptist established immediate and total control. The Lancers opened the contest on a 15-2 run, fueled by the interior presence of 7-foot center Bradey Henige, who scored three quick layups. Abilene Christian never recovered, managing just 19 points in the first half while shooting a frigid percentage from the field. California Baptist’s defensive pressure forced 10 Wildcats turnovers before halftime, converting them into easy transition opportunities that built a 49-19 lead at the break.

Daniels, a junior guard from Compton, California, was the catalyst, orchestrating the offense with efficiency. He added four assists and was a constant disruptive force on defense. His scoring output continued a stellar stretch, following performances of 23 and 28 points in his last two games.

Bradyn Hubbard led Abilene Christian with 14 points, but the Wildcats struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against the Lancers’ swarming defense. California Baptist’s depth was on full display, with nine different players scoring. Henige finished with nine points, while Martel Williams and Monty Bowser added 10 and seven points, respectively, off the bench.

The second half offered no respite for the visitors. California Baptist maintained its intensity, extending the lead to as many as 41 points. The Lancers dominated nearly every facet of the game, outrebounding Abilene Christian and sharing the ball effectively for 15 team assists.

A crowd of 4,681 watched the home team deliver one of its most complete performances of the season. The victory marked California Baptist’s third straight win and completed a regular-season sweep of Abilene Christian, having also won a tighter contest, 65-63, on Feb. 7.

The Lancers will conclude their regular season on the road Saturday at Southern Utah. Abilene Christian returns home to host Texas-Arlington on Saturday, looking to halt its skid before the conference tournament.

The game’s total points, 135, narrowly surpassed the over/under line of 136. California Baptist entered the game as a 9-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a margin it eclipsed before the first half concluded.