Men's Basketball | 2/28/2025 3:00:00 PM

Game #29
Who | California Baptist (13-14, 6-7 WAC) at Utah Tech (6-22, 2-11 WAC)
When | Saturday, March 1 – 7 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena – St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers + #WACmbb

SCOUTING THE LANCERS
California Baptist heads into Saturday night's contest against the Trailblazers with a 13-14 overall record and a 6-7 mark in the WAC, sitting in a three-way tie for fourth alongside Seattle U and Abilene Christian.

Coming off a tough 72-48 loss on the road at Seattle U on Thursday night, the Lancers are only 3-8 on the road this season and have WAC road wins at Abilene Christian and Southern Utah.

Posting a 7-7 non-conference record, CBU tallied victories over Incarnate Word, Kennesaw State, LIU, Eastern Washington, Fresno State (2x) and Jackson State.

The Lancers are currently leading the WAC in free throw percentage (75.5), and offensive rebounds per game (11.93).

CBU ranks third in turnovers per game (12.1) and is fourth in scoring offense (72.6) and three point attempts per game (21.0).

Individually, senior guard Dominique Daniels Jr. leads the WAC and ranks 17th in the NCAA averaging 20.0 points per game, but has not played in CBU's last two contests after scoring 36 points in the Lancers' 86-83 win over the Trailblazers in Riverside on Feb. 15.

Senior forward Kendal Coleman checks in fourth in the WAC in rebounds per game (8.0) and is fifth in double-doubles with five.

In total, CBU averages 72.6 points per game and is 11-3 when scoring 73 or more points.

In 13 WAC games, the Lancers are averaging 68.8 points per game and are 4-1 when scoring 69 or more points.

SERIES HISTORY VS. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
This will be Utah Tech's 25th meeting against California Baptist and 10th at home in St. George.

The Trailblazers lead the all-time series, 14-10 and are 7-2 at home.

Utah Tech fell only two weeks ago in Riverside falling 86-83 as five Trailblazers tallied double figures led by 18 points from Madiba Owona.

Since moving to Division I in 2020-21, the series is tied 4-4 and is 1-1 in St. George with a win last season, 85-78 on Feb. 10, 2024 and fell at home, 71-61 on Feb. 24, 2022.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite a one-point halftime lead on Thursday night at home against Southern Utah, the Trailblazers fell 82-75 to the Thunderbirds at Burns Arena.

Utah Tech was led by senior guard Noa Gonsalves with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, adding five rebounds and three assists.

Two more Trailblazers finished in double figures with Beon Riley tallying 14 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals while Samuel Ariyibi chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.

Southern Utah was paced by three Thunderbirds in double figures with 29 points from Dominique Ford along with 23 points by Jamir Simpson.

Hercy Miller came off the bench adding 12 points and six rebounds and Lorenzo Abellar dished out a team-high seven assists and scored six points.            

Getting off to a quick start, the Trailblazers led 8-2 after the first two minutes thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Gonsalves and two free throws by Riley.

A free throw by Ariyibi put UT ahead 20-14, but the Trailblazers went cold from the field being held scoreless over the next three-and-half minutes as SUU made it a one-point game, 20-19.

A jumper from Madiba Owona gave UT a three-point lead (22-19) and the Trailblazers extended it to as many as six (29-23) after a pair of free throws by Ariyibi.

A 9-2 run for the Thunderbirds gave SUU their first lead of the half at 32-31 with 1:30 to play in the opening half as a pair of late field goals by Ariyibi pushed UT ahead 35-34 at the break.

Five quick points out of the gate for SUU to start the second half gave the Thunderbirds a 39-35 lead, but a 6-0 run for the Trailblazers, capped by a three-pointer from Owona, put UT back in the lead, 41-39.

A 9-0 run for Southern Utah pushed their lead to 50-41, but the Trailblazers raced back with a 17-9 run to knot the game at 58 after a three-pointer by Justin Bieker with 7:30 to go in the second half.

Pulling within two on four different occasions over the next three-plus minutes, a dunk by Gonsalves got UT within a pair (69-67) with 4:13 remaining.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Simpson and Ford extended SUU's lead to eight with just under three minutes to play as the Trailblazers could only get within four (78-74) after a three-point play by Hakim Byrd the rest of the contest as SUU went on to win, 82-75.

WHERE THE BLAZERS RANK IN THE WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech checks in second in the WAC in three point attempts per game (22.5) and three pointers made per game (7.5).

The Trailblazers also rank fourth in three point percentage (33.5) and turnovers per game (12.6) while ranking fifth in assists per game (12.9).

Individually, Gonsalves ranks second in the the WAC in three-pointers made (67), three-pointers made per game (2.39), third in minutes per game (34:55) and fifth in point per game (14.8).

Riley ranks third in double-doubles (8) and is fifth in rebounds per game (7.7).

Samuel Ariybi is fourth in blocks (38) and sixth in blocks per game (1.52).

HITTING FROM DOWNTOWN
On the season, the Trailblazers are 211-of-630 (.335) from behind the arc which currently ranks third all-time in both three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted in a single season.

GET THAT OUT OF HERE
As a team, the Trailblazers have notched 88 total blocks, good for eighth-most in a single season in the NCAA era.

Samuel Ariyibi leads the way with 38 blocks which is the seventh-most in a single season in program history.

FALLING IN CLOSE CONTESTS
Utah Tech has been on the wrong of close contests all season sitting 0-7 in games decided by three points or less after a narrow two-point defeat in overtime at home against WAC-leading Utah Valley last Thursday.

UT has dropped their last eight games decided by three or less dating back to last season.

Its last win in a contest that was three points or fewer came in a 70-68 win at home over Southern Utah on Feb. 8, 2024.

RILEY CONTINUES STRONG SEASON
Riley's average of 7.7 rebounds per game is sixth all-time in a single season.

He is also sixth all-time in career rebounds per game averaging 6.6 boards per game.

A two-year Trailblazer, Riley's career average of 12.2 points per game is ninth all-time in program history.

He has scored in double digits in six straight games and 10 times overall in WAC play.

GONSALVES CONTINUES ASCENT UP CAREER TOP 10 MARKS
Gonsalves moved past DeQuan Thompson (2011-15) for fourth all-time in career points and is now only 29 points of moving into third place, currently held by Hunter Schofield (2019-22, 1,223 pts.).        

In addition, Gonsalves moved into a tie for the most career games played (122) as he will move past current leader jacon Nicolds (2018-23, 122) on Saturday vs. CBU.

He is also third in starts (87), fourth in steals (122), field goals made (411) & field goal attempts (931) & seventh in free throw percentage (79.7).

BYRD & GONSALVES STANDOUTS FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Byrd and Gonsalves have been consistent all season from the free throw line.

Byrd has connected on 48-of-53 (90.6) from the line while Gonsalves is 64-of-72 (88.9) to rank second and third, respectively in program history in a single season in free throw percentage.

DOUBLE FIGURES 
Gonsalves has reached double figures in 23 of 28 contests, including 15 of his last 17.

Riley (18), Ariyibi (10), Justin Bieker (8), Byrd (8), Britton Berrett (3), Owona (3), Tennessee Rainwater (3) & Stone Hutchings (2) have also recorded multiple double digit contests this season.

GONSALVES THE SHARPSHOOTER
Gonsalves became the program leader for the most career three-pointers made on Dec. 7 at Utah State passing Brandon Simister (2012-18). 

He currently has 212 made three-pointers on 564 attempts and is ninth in 3-point percentage at 37.6 percent.

On the season, he is 67-of-183 (.366) from behind the arc on the season as his three-pointers made are tied for most in a single season alongside Brandon Simister (2017-18, 67) and his attempts are the most in a single season.

Overall in 122 games played, Gonsalves has hit a three-pointer in 96 contests, including 53 out of 59 games over the last two seasons.

He has hit multiple triples in 21 games this season and 61 career games.

HOME COOKING
The Trailblazers are 170-61 (.736) overall at Burns Arena in the NCAA era.

Utah Tech has recorded 14 winnings seasons in 18 seasons in St. George in its NCAA era, including a perfect 12-0 in 2008-09.

The Blazers are 5-6 at home this season, including winning four of their last five, and are 35-31 (.530) at home in the Division I era.

SEASONED VETERAN
Head coach Jon Judkins is in his 20th season at Utah Tech this season sporting a 337-224 (.601) overall record and a 317-212 (.599) mark in NCAA play.

Only nine current Division I coaches have been at their schools longer - Greg Kampe (41st season at Oakland), Tom Izzo (30-Michigan St.), Mark Few (26-Gonzaga), James Jones (26-Yale), Randy Bennett (26-Saint Mary's), Leonard Hamilton (23-Florida St.), Scott Drew (22-Baylor), Bill Self (22-Kansas) & Gary Manchel (22-Mercyhurst).

WAC TOURNAMENT ON THE HORIZON        
With the Trailblazers loss to Southern Utah on Thursday night, Utah Tech has assured itself a spot in the opening round of the WAC Tournament on March 11 at 2:30 p.m.

With a win in that contest, the Trailblazers will go on to play the top seed in the tournament on March 12 at 7 p.m. MT at Orleans Arena.

UP NEXT
The Trailblazers close out the regular season next week traveling to Grand Canyon (21-6, 11-2 WAC) on Thursday and return home to host Seattle U (11-16, 6-7 WAC) for Senior Night on Saturday at 7 p.m.