RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the California Baptist Lancers survived a furious second-half rally from Abilene Christian to escape with a 65-63 victory in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball clash Saturday night at a tense CBU Events Center.

The Lancers, who led for over 38 minutes of game time, saw a 13-point second-half advantage evaporate completely, only to have guard Dominique Daniels and forward Jordan Muller deliver in the final seconds to secure the win before a crowd of 3,079.

The contest was a stark contrast in styles. California Baptist, despite shooting just 34 percent from the floor, leveraged its efficiency from the three-point line and the free-throw stripe. The Lancers connected on 7 of 14 from deep and 24 of 34 from the line. Abilene Christian, meanwhile, struggled mightily with its shooting touch, making only 3 of 19 three-point attempts and 18 of 26 free throws. The Wildcats compensated with relentless offensive rebounding, tying the Lancers with 11 on the night, and forcing a slightly faster tempo with 72 possessions to California Baptist’s 66.

Daniels, a guard from Compton, California, was the offensive catalyst for the Lancers, scoring a game-high 21 points and dishing out five assists. His penetration and poise at the foul line were critical down the stretch. Martel Williams added 12 points for California Baptist, while Thomas Ndong provided a key interior presence with six points and two blocks.

Abilene Christian was led by forward Bradyn Hubbard’s 16 points and the energetic play of reserve guard Chilaydrien Newton, who scored 12 points in just 19 minutes. Center Cade Hornecker added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who fell to 10-13 overall and 3-7 in WAC play. California Baptist improved to 18-6 and 8-2 in the conference.

The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the final half-minute. With the score knotted at 63-63 after Hubbard’s driving jumper and subsequent free throw with 14 seconds remaining, California Baptist called timeout to set up a final play. The inbounds pass went to Daniels, who drove the left side of the lane and was fouled by Christian Alston with 7.1 seconds on the clock. Daniels calmly sank both free throws to put the Lancers ahead 65-63.

Abilene Christian, with no timeouts remaining, rushed the ball upcourt. Newton’s contested three-point attempt from the right wing as time expired missed off the rim, sealing the narrow victory for the home team.

The ending was a crushing blow for an Abilene Christian team that had fought back from a 32-26 halftime deficit. The Wildcats chipped away throughout the second period, finally drawing even on Hubbard’s three-point play. Their defense held California Baptist without a field goal for the final 4:40 of the game, but the Lancers’ ability to draw fouls and convert at the line—scoring their final eight points from the charity stripe—proved the difference.

The game was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams combining for more turnovers (23) than assists (8). California Baptist’s ability to protect the ball slightly better and capitalize on its limited clean looks from beyond the arc provided the slender margin needed.

The victory extends California Baptist’s winning streak to three games and keeps them firmly in the upper tier of the WAC standings. For Abilene Christian, the loss is their fourth in five games, though the narrow margin on the road against a conference leader offers a measure of resilience after a 16-point loss to these same Lancers just three weeks prior in Abilene.

Both teams continue WAC play on Thursday. California Baptist travels to face Southern Utah, while Abilene Christian returns home to host Texas-Arlington.