Utah Tech Trailblazers face California Baptist Lancers in WAC Tournament

No. 3 seed Utah Tech looks to upset No. 2 seed California Baptist in Friday's semifinal matchup.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:22am

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The Utah Tech Trailblazers, the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, will take on the No. 2 seed California Baptist Lancers in the semifinal round on Friday. Utah Tech is coming off an 80-74 win over Abilene Christian in the quarterfinals, while California Baptist closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak. The winner will advance one step closer to the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the Western Athletic Conference, with the winner earning a spot in the tournament final. Both teams have been playing well down the stretch, making this an intriguing semifinal clash with high stakes.

The details

Utah Tech has been led by a balanced scoring attack, with Daniels, Potter, Trujillo, and Holt all playing key roles. The Trailblazers have been putting up big offensive numbers lately, averaging 82.6 points per game over their last five contests. However, they've also been giving up 82.4 points per game in that span. California Baptist, on the other hand, has been more consistent on both ends, averaging 73.0 points and just 62.2 points allowed over its last five games. The Lancers have also been strong on the defensive end, holding opponents to 39.3% shooting and 26.1% from three-point range during that stretch.

  • California Baptist and Utah Tech met three times during the regular season, with the Lancers winning the season series 2-1.
  • Utah Tech defeated Abilene Christian 80-74 in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday.

The players

Daniels

Utah Tech's leading scorer, averaging 26.3 points per game over his last four contests.

Potter

Utah Tech forward who has scored 25, 28, and 25 points in three of the Trailblazers' last four meaningful games.

California Baptist Lancers

The No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament, with a 23-8 overall record and 13-5 conference mark.

Utah Tech Trailblazers

The No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, with a 19-14 overall record and 11-7 conference mark.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The winner of this semifinal matchup will advance to the WAC Tournament championship game on Saturday.

The takeaway

This game features two hot teams looking to punch their ticket to the WAC Tournament final. While California Baptist has been the more consistent team, Utah Tech's recent offensive surge makes this an intriguing clash between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the conference.