RIVERSIDE — California Baptist University men’s basketball coach Rick Croy got what he wanted out of his season opener. A.J. Braun and Kendall Coleman combined for 34 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lancers had to battle back in the second half to defeat Incarnate Word 83-78 on Monday night at the Fowler Events Center. California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. attacks the basket guarded by Incarnate Word’s Jayden Williams in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Aj Braun goes for a layup guarded by Incarnate Word’s Jayden Williams in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Tylen Riley goes for a layup against Incarnate Word in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. goes for a layup against Incarnate Word in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Javonte Johnson dribbles the ball guarded by Incarnate Word’s Ryan Van Eyck in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. goes for a layup against Incarnate Word in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Bradey Henige goes for a dunk against Incarnate Word in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Bradey Henige goes for a layup against Incarnate Word’s Jayden Williams in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. reacts during a men’s basketball season opener game against Incarnate Word on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Brantly Stevenson goes for a layup guarded by Incarnate Word’s Jayden Williams in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. dribbles the ball guarded by Incarnate Word’s Amani Drummond during a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) California Baptist University’s Aj Braun goes for a layup guarded by Incarnate Word’s Marcus Glover in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 12California Baptist University’s Dominique Daniels Jr. attacks the basket guarded by Incarnate Word’s Jayden Williams in a men’s basketball season opener game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) Expand “There are a lot of teams that played mismatched opening games today and won by 40 and they probably didn’t get better,” Croy said. “We got better tonight.” Dominique Daniels Jr. added 16 points, six assists, two steals and a block for CBU, which made 13 of 18 free-throw attempts in the second half to seal the win. “To start the season like this, with a close game, just gives us a feel for what’s to come later on in the season,” Daniels said. The Lancers overcame a 41-point performance from Incarnate Word shooting guard Davion Bailey, who was 17 of 26 from the field — including seven 3-pointers — in the loss. “We knew he was going to bring it,” Croy said. “There was a number of times I thought we played good defense and he just stuck shots.” Braun, the newly inserted power forward, scored CBU’s first four points of the season as the Lancers struck first. The 6-9 transfer from Wright State first received the ball in the low block on the Lancers’ possession from the tipoff, backed his man down and scooped it in with his left hand. “A.J. is a very confident player,” Croy said. “I thought our guys did a good job of getting him the ball in good spots, and he believes he can deliver.” Incarnate Word, however, was able to gain an early advantage with sharp shooting from 3-point range. Bailey sank four shots from long range as the Cardinals started 6 for 6 from beyond the arc and led 21-12 less than 7 minutes into the game. “To a degree, we started riding him and let him put his imprint on this game,” Incarnate Word coach Shane Heirman said. “He did a terrific job of helping us extend and early lead, but credit CBU with finding a way to fight back.” A transfer from Ball State, Bailey stayed hot early and was 8 of 9 from the field as Incarnate Word pushed its lead to 28-18 midway through the first half. Incarnate Word, just 8-23 last season, led by as many as 17 points, but CBU continued to chip away and got to within nine points at 43-34 at halftime. “We went into halftime down but we just stuck to it,” Coleman said. “I feel like we had a mismatch down low tonight.” Coleman bullied his way for the first two points of the second half and added a 3-pointer before a steal and layup by Tylen Riley really put CBU on the offensive. Related Articles College Sports | UCLA gets defensive to dominate Rider in season opener College Sports | USC easily dispatches Chattanooga in first win of Eric Musselman era College Sports | UCLA women top Louisville in Paris opener College Sports | USC women’s basketball edges Ole Miss in Paris to open season College Sports | UCLA women’s basketball: Top questions for the 2024-25 season Sam Silverstein made his first 3-pointer with 15 minutes to play as CBU got to within one point at 49-48, and a steal and layup by Javonte Johnson gave the Lancers a 52-51 lead less than a minute later. The lead was shared or changed hands six times down the stretch, but a fast-break dunk by Silverstein gave CBU a 73-68 lead with 5 minutes left. Silverstein, a transfer from Harvard, finished with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in his debut.