RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Hawai'i Pacific University dropped its second straight PacWest Conference game as 24th ranked California Baptist beat the Sharks 73-60 on Monday night in the new CBU Event Center.
 
The Sharks (9-7, 4-4) have fallen three times in their last four games. The Lancers (14-3, 7-2) won for the second straight game and eighth in the last nine contests.
 
HPU was led by senior forward Niksha Federico of San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic, the PacWest's leading scorer and rebounder, with 22 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Junior forward Jonathan Janssen of Noosa Head, Australia/Mountain State, added 10 points with a blocked shot, with junior guard Darnell Bettis of Los Angeles/University pitching in nine points.
 
The No. 24 Lancers were paced by Jordan Heading with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kalidou Diouf posted 14 points with four rebounds, and Cory Lange also scored 14 points with three boards.
 
HPU shot 42 percent (24-of-57) from the field for the game, and hit 6-of-17 shots (35 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks made 6-of-7 (86 percent) from the foul line. Cal Baptist hit 47 percent (29-of-62) from the floor, including 11-of-30 (37 percent) from 3-point range. The Lancers were 4-of-6 (67 percent) from the charity stripe. CBU beat the Sharks 38-30 on the boards, while HPU suffered 14 turnovers to CBU's 12.
 
The No. 24 Lancers never trailed in game, but the Sharks held tough until a second half run pushed CBU to the win.
 
The Lancers opened a seven-point lead midway through the first half when HPU rallied. Senior forward Albert Christensson of Lund, Sweden, got a layup with 7:29 to play, followed by a jumper and 3-pointer from Federico for a 7-0 run to tie the game at 18-all a minute later. The Lancers answered with a pair of triples and expanded the lead to 33-25 at the half.
 
The Sharks battled CBU tight in the first nine minutes of the second half. After the Lancers held a seven-point lead, junior forward Spencer Vering of San Diego/Mater Dei Catholic hit a 3-pointer and redshirt freshman guard Amiri Chukwuemeka of Phoenix/McClintock, added a layup and the CBU lead was cut to two. Diouf followed with a jumper for the Lancers, then a pair of free throws by Federico brought the deficit back to a bucket at 45-43.
 
However, that was as close as the Sharks would get. Heading hit a 3-ball for CBU to start a 13-1 run and HPU could only get back within nine the rest of the way.
 
The Sharks have a few days to regroup before traveling to Azusa Pacific on Thursday. Tipoff at the Felix Event Center is at 5:30 p.m. HST (7:30 PST).