Lancers

California Baptist Lancers
General Information
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Western Athletic Conference (2018-present)
Past Conferences: None
City: Riverside, Calif.
Stadium: CBU Events Center
NCAA Tournaments: None
Championships
- Championships: None
- National Championships: None
- Conference Tournament Titles: None
- Conference Regular Season Titles: None
California Baptist Lancers Team History
The California Baptist Lancers are a Division I program located in Riverside, California. California Baptist has been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since 2018, when it began the transition from Division II.
California Baptist competed in the Pacific West Conference, winning two regular season titles and making five consecutive Division II NCAA Tournaments from 2014-18. The Lancers appeared twice in the Sweet 16 and reached the Elite Eight in 2018, when they lost 100-94 to Queens University of Charlotte (N.C.)
The move to Division I came five years after California Baptist began transitioning from NAIA to Division II. The school became eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year after completing a four-year reclassification process, similar to WAC counterpart Tarleton State. They also are now eligible to participate in WAC postseason competitions.
California Baptist did, however, get to compete twice in the College Basketball Invitational, which allows schools that didn’t make the NCAA or National Invitational tournaments to pay an entry fee to compete. The Lancers lost in the first round both times — in 2019 to Loyola Marymount and in 2022 to Middle Tennessee.
Coach Rick Croy
Rick Croy, a former St. Mary’s assistant, has coached California Baptist since 2013, meaning he was at the helm for all five NCAA Tournament appearances. He then guided the Lancers to winning records in each of their first four seasons at the Division I level, including a 21-10 mark in 2019-20. Croy’s previous head coaching experience came at Citrus College, a community college in Glendale, Calif.
On the heels of that success, California Baptist carried modest odds into the 2022-23 season. The Lancers were picked to finish fifth in the WAC preseason coaches and media polls. Sophomore guard Taran Armstrong, the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year, was voted all-conference.
California Baptist’s postseason history also includes four appearances in the NAIA Tournament, most recently in 2008.
All-Time California Baptist Lancers Records
Points Scored
- Milan Acquaah: 1,150
- Â Ty Rowell: 1,058
- Tre Armstrong: 773
Rebounds
- De’Jon Davis: 575
- Milan Acquaah: 308
- Tre Armstrong: 308
Assists
- Milan Acquaah: 283
- Ty Rowell: 271
- Taran Armstrong: 165