New Coaching Staff and Roster Turnover Cost California Baptist Its Home Streak
The Lancers lost 71-63 to North Florida, ending a 19-game winning run at the Fowler Events Center amid a major personnel overhaul.
By Lina Lewis ·
Kyle Getter’s first game as head coach at California Baptist University ended in a 71-63 loss to North Florida on Tuesday night. The defeat marked the end of a 19-game home winning streak for the Lancers, a record that had stood since a 60-57 loss to Southern Utah on February 6, 2025.
The statistical disparity between the teams was evident in the glass and the paint. North Florida outrebounded California Baptist 41-31. The Ospreys also outscored the Lancers 42-20 in the paint. This defensive imbalance allowed North Florida to control the tempo despite a slow start. The two teams combined for only three made field goals in the first four minutes of play.
Only three players return from last season’s squad, which won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship and earned a March Madness berth. This turnover has forced the program to rebuild its identity. Jordan Müller, a sophomore guard from Germany and one of the three holdovers, led the Lancers with 15 points. Terry Coner Jr., a senior transfer from Oklahoma Baptist, added 13 points. Jonas Žilinskas contributed eight points and five rebounds.
Getter, formerly the lead assistant at Notre Dame, noted that his young group showed flashes of cohesion. He stated that the team shared the ball well and generated quality shots for the most part. However, he acknowledged the need for more grit and physicality. He emphasized the requirement to build a defensive presence in the paint and limit opponents from scoring there.
North Florida utilized a balanced offensive approach. Five players finished with double-digit scoring. Kent Jackson led the Ospreys with 15 points. Mason Watkins added 13 points and seven rebounds. Ayuba Bryant Jr. scored 11 points and also recorded seven rebounds. JR Bartelus provided a key burst in the first half, scoring six consecutive points near the basket to shift the momentum to North Florida.
The Lancers held their last lead with 2:50 remaining in the first half. Ethan Duncan’s three free throws gave California Baptist a 29-28 advantage. North Florida extended its lead to 42-34 in the second half. Mason Lee and Kent Jackson hit three-pointers to widen the gap. Mason Watkins drove for a layup to push the Ospreys’ lead to a game-high 11 points with 11:49 left in the contest.
California Baptist cut the deficit to five points three times in the second half. Žilinskas hit a three-pointer with 1:32 remaining to make the score 69-63. North Florida missed three free throws in the final 50 seconds, but the Lancers failed to capitalize on their final five possessions. Müller said the team must improve by watching film and using every practice session to implement the progress made during the preseason.
The Lancers will play their next game on Friday night. They will travel to Corvallis to face Oregon State.
