California Baptist's basketball program began in 1955 at the Christian university in Riverside, California. The Lancers transitioned from NAIA to Division II and then to Division I, joining the WAC in 2018. CBU has quickly become competitive at the D-I level.
The Lancers nickname evokes the image of a mounted knight carrying a lance, symbolizing the Christian warrior spirit the university aims to embody.
Completing the transition to full Division I status and becoming eligible for the NCAA Tournament, marking a new era for the rapidly growing university.
California Baptist is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, with enrollment more than tripling since 2000, and the basketball program has benefited from significant investment in new facilities.
The California Baptist Lancers compete in the WAC and hold an all-time record of 143–108 (.570 winning percentage) across 8 recorded seasons dating back to 2018-19.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 25-8 | 13-5 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2024-25 | 17-15 | 9-7 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2023-24 | 16-17 | 8-12 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2022-23 | 17-16 | 7-10 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2021-22 | 18-16 | 7-11 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2020-21 | 13-10 | 6-6 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2019-20 | 21-10 | 10-6 (WAC) | Rick Croy | |
| 2018-19 | 16-15 | 7-9 (WAC) | Rick Croy |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
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Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
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