For the first time while playing in the PacWest Conference, the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be playing against Biola University this season.
The women’s and men’s teams will be playing against Biola Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, on the road. Then, they will play each other again at home Feb. 10, with the women playing at 5 p.m. and the men playing at 7 p.m. as part of homecoming.
Though this is the first time the Lancers will be playing against Biola in the PacWest, it is not the first time playing each other, as they have participated in contests while in the NAIA.
The last time Lancer basketball played against Biola was in Jan. 29, 2011, on the road, with the men taking a 67-49 loss and the women taking a 56-50 victory.
Men’s basketball also has a record of 36-61 overall against Biola, while the women carry a 30-41 overall record against the CBU rivals.
Jason Todd, senior finance major and guard, said the team is very excited about playing Biola.
“We’ve heard a lot of great things about Biola,” Todd said. “I personally never got to play against them, but they are a great program in not just basketball, but all of their athletic programs.”
Jacqueline DiTaranto, sophomore criminal justice major who transferred to CBU from Biola, said she thinks both the men’s and women’s games will be competitive.
“Last year, I thought both teams at Biola were very good and CBU’s teams are good, if not better,” DiTaranto said.
DiTaranto also made comments concerning her experiences at both universities.
DiTaranto also said the homecoming game will be exciting since CBU is playing Biola.
“It will be good competition and it will be a good game,” DiTaranto said.
The Lancers said they are looking forward to homecoming to play nearby rivals Biola for the first time in Conference.
Biola was approved to begin competition in the PacWest in the 2017-18 school year, keeping the conference’s membership steady at 14 institutions. However, Biola will not be eligible for NCAA postseason competition until the 2019-20 season.
