Preview: Chicago State Men's Basketball at California Baptist March 2 at 9 p.m.

The Chicago State men's basketball team is scheduled to travel to Riverside, California to face California Baptist on Wednesday, March 2 at 9 p.m. at the CBU Events Center. The Cougars are fresh off a thrilling upset win over New Mexico State as Brandon Betson converted a layup with two seconds remaining for the go-ahead points and eventual win. Betson delivered CSU's first WAC win in similar fashion against California Baptist in their first meeting of the season back on Jan. 8, a 58-56 CSU victory. The Lancers are 15-14 overall and 5-11 in the WAC while Chicago State is 7-22 overall and 3-13 in league play. The Lancers hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools.

The Cougars will close out the regular season on the road at California Baptist (3/2) and at Seattle (3/5). With last Saturday's win over New Mexico State, Chicago State assured a spot in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The top 10 eligible  teams in the WAC advance and the Cougars are currently ninth, a half-game ahead of UTRGV and three games in front of Lamar with two games to play. 

Information on how to follow the Cougars below:

Last time out...vs. New Mexico State
Teddy Bayi Ba Mendeng tied a career high with four blocks, the last of which came on New Mexico State's final possession when he blocked Sir'Jabari Rice's driving layup and grabbed the defensive rebound with 24 seconds remaining in the game, leading to Chicago State's game-winning score. That defensive rebound was one of his eight boards, three of which came with under two minutes to play, limiting the Aggies to single possessions in the waning moments of the game.

Brandon Betson's driving layup and score with two seconds remaining was his second last-second game winner of the season as he accomplished the same feat against California Baptist on Jan. 8. He scored a game-high 17 points and set season highs in field-goals attempted (18), three-point field goals attempted (12) and assists (8). He has led the team in scoring 10 times this season, has eclipsed the 20-point mark four times and has scored in double figures 24 times this season. He has converted at least one three-point field goal in 26 of 29 games and has converted more than one in a game on 21 occasions. He leads the team in three-point field goals made (70) and attempted (190) and his three-point field goal percentage (.368) ranks second on the team (Favour Chukwukelu, .379). His 70 three-point field goals made currently rank eighth on Chicago State's single-season list and the 190 attempts rank ninth.

Jahsean Corbett was one of three players in double figures with 16 points, none bigger than, when trailing by three with just over a minute to play, he hit a driving layup, was fouled and converted the free throw to tie the score at 59-59, in the 61-59 victory. He has led the team in scoring seven times and reached double digits 18 times. He has three double-doubles and registered the highest single-game point output this season for the Cougars with 26 points at New Mexico State. He has also led the team in rebounding on 11 occasions this season and has notched double digits boards four times.

J.J. Harris scored 12 of Chicago State's first 16 points of the second half, turning back NMSU rallies converting a career-high four three pointers made during the 12-minute stretch. After the Aggies took their first lead of the game, Harris hit his first three to reclaim the lead, then, when NMSU went up 46-45, he answered with another triple as the shot clock expired to gain the lead again.

Last time vs. California Baptist
Brandon Betson scored all 10 of his points in the second half, including driving the length of the floor and making the winning shot with 1.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Noah Bigirumwami played a season high 20 minutes and tied season highs with one three-point field goal and five rebounds.

Jahsean Corbett was the leading scorer (13) and rebounder (9).

Ali Dibba made his first start and scored in double figures (11) for the third time in four games.

Bryce Johnson played his second consecutive game after missing nine games due to injury.

Milestones...
Chicago State's season-opening win over St. Thomas was head coach Gerald Gillion's first as a collegiate head coach ... That win also snapped a 28-game Cougars losing streak, dating back to December 2019, an 89-81 win over SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois ... The game against St. Thomas was the Cougars first action in nearly a year, last playing Dec. 20, 2020, in what turned out to be a nine-game, COVID-shortened 2020-21 season ... The Cougars win over SIUE (67-56) marked the Cougars first two-game win streak over Division I opponents since the 2014-15 season (Feb. 26 vs. GCU, W, 74-70; Feb. 28 vs. Utah Valley, 65-44) ... Chicago State won three straight home games for the first time since 2018-19 after winning the first three home games of the 2021-22 season ... The road win over IUPUI win was the Cougars first on the road this season and first road win since Dec. 4, 2019 at SIUE (89-81), a span of 24 games away from the Jones Convocation Center (includes two neutral site games) ... the Cougars earned their first Western Athletic Conference victory since March 2018 (vs. UMKC, W 96-82) when the Cougars beat California Baptist 58-56 at home on Jan. 8 ... Chicago State's 67-56 win at Lamar was the Cougars first conference road victory since Jan. 12, 2017 when CSU beat Utah Valley in Orem, 70-61  ... CSU's win over New Mexico State snapped a nine-game losing streak and was the first over the Aggies since 2015, a span of 17 games.