SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A surging mid-major looking for a signature win will meet a blue-blood program aiming to rediscover its form when seed California Baptist faces fourth-seeded Kansas in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball playoff game Friday at Frontwave Arena.

The Lancers (25-8) enter on a six-game winning streak, last losing on Feb. 19. Their first-round opponent, the Jayhawks (23-10), have lost three of their last five, including a 69-47 defeat at Houston in their most recent outing.

California Baptist is led by dynamic guard Dominique Daniels, who has been on a scoring tear. Over his last six games, Daniels is averaging 28.2 points, including a 41-point outburst against Utah Tech on March 13 and a 23-point performance in a tight 63-61 road win at Utah Valley last Saturday.

Kansas counters with standout guard Darryn Peterson. The sophomore has been a consistent scorer but is coming off a difficult shooting night in the loss to Houston, where he managed 14 points on 5-of-17 from the field. Peterson had 24 points in a win over TCU on March 12 and 27 in a victory over Kansas State on March 7.

The game presents a stark contrast in postseason experience. Kansas, a perennial national contender, is a fixture in the tournament. California Baptist, which transitioned to Division I in 2018, is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Lancers’ path has been built on offensive efficiency during their streak, scoring 80 or more points in four of their last six wins. Kansas, meanwhile, has struggled offensively at times against top competition, failing to reach 70 points in four of its 10 losses this season.

Kansas has been installed as a 12.5-point favorite by FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 135.5 points.

The winner will advance to face either fifth-seeded Alabama or 12th-seeded Northern Iowa on Sunday in San Diego.