RivCo's Cal Baptist Men, Women's Basketball Teams Seek Cinderella Stories In NCAA March Madness Tournament

RIVERSIDE, CA — This year, both the California Baptist University men's and women's basketball teams will take to the court Friday in the NCAA basketball tournament, to start March Madness. The men's team is seeking a Cinderella story in its debut.

The Cal Baptist men's team, seeded 13th, will battle the Kansas Jayhawks, seeded 4th, on Friday at 6:45 p.m. at Viejas Arena in San Diego.

The Jayhawks are 14.5-point favorites in the matchup in which Cal Baptist men make their tournament debut. The Lancer's Dominique Daniels Jr., a 5-foot-10-inch senior guard, is one to watch.

Cal Baptist head coach Rick Croy discussed the team as it prepares for the Friday game on the CBU Athletics website.

" We have a great situation at CBU with a great administration and a President that cares," said head coach Rick Croy. "There are so many positives, but you're in the trenches every day, in the same building, in the same weight room, with the women's program. We see the sweat equity they put in, and it's all respect."

Guard Dominique Daniels Jr. remains in the spotlight after his performance in the WAC Championship Game.

Daniels Jr. is scoring 23.1 points per game, with 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists, according to NCAA stats.

Meanwhile, the women's team will take on the UCLA Bruins in the opening round of the women's basketball tournament Saturday, with tipoff at 7 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion. The women's team is making its second appearance in the NCAA tournament.

According to the CBU website, "a key battle to watch will be on the boards, as both UCLA and CBU have been strong rebounding teams all season.

The Lancers are 9th in defensive rebounding at 30 per game and are 20th in total rebounding at nearly 42 per contest. Another key battle will be on the perimeter as both teams are formidable threats from distance.

"The Bruins are 6th in the country in three-point percentage at 37.5% and are also in the top 60 in makes. The Lancers hang their hat on their distance shooting, as they rank in the top 20 in both attempts and makes per game in the NCAA."

California Baptist University is a private Christian liberal arts institution in Riverside. Learn more about this school at www.calbaptist.edu.