The California Baptist Lancers men's basketball team represents California Baptist University in the Western Athletic Conference. The team made the jump into Division I basketball on July 1, 2018. They are currently led by head coach Rick Croy and play at the Fowler Events Center, which opened in 2017 and replaced the Van Dyne Gym.[2] The men's basketball program was ineligible to play in the NCAA Division I Tournament during their transition period, although they were eligible for other tournaments such as the College Basketball Invitational. The 2022-23 season was the 1st season the Lancers were eligible for the NCAA tournament.
History
The men's basketball program began playing at the NAIA level in 1969 and stayed at that level until 2010, competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference. In 2010, California Baptist Lancers moved up in all sports to the NCAA Division II, joining the Pacific West Conference in all sports on July 1, 2011. In January 2017, the California Baptist Lancers announced their transition to NCAA Division I, joining the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, 2018, in all sports. The school became eligible for the NCAA Division I postseason tournament in the 2022–23 season.[3]
