Records tumbled as Taran Armstrong delivered one of his season-best performances to help California Baptist University maintain their unbeaten home record with a 89-71 win over North Dakota.
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The Burnie baller starred for the Lancers as they moved to 9-1 on the season in a game which left NBA star and fellow Australian Josh Giddey labelling Armstrong "best passer in college ball."
Armstrong's 11 points and eight rebounds were important but the former Marist Regional College student's 15 assists broke the Lancers single-game record for assists in the program's history.
The previous record had stood for two decades after Ted Plotts delivered 14 assists back on January 18, 2001.
The Burnie brothers were on show again as the Taran found Tre Armstrong cutting to the basket for an easy two-point lay-up late in the first-half for assist number 10.
NBA draft analyst Chad Ford labelled Taran as the best point guard ahead of the 2022 draft after his North Dakota.
"I haven't seen a better, more creative passer in this draft class than Armstrong. He's lethal both in the pick-and-roll and in the open court," he said.
Lancers head coach Rick Croy said the attention Taran is receiving was warranted given his start to the year.
"He's loving being a college basketball player," he said post-game to CBU Media.
"He's been waiting for this for over two years. He's been waiting for these opportunities. He's worked for them. He understands that. The attention he is getting is deserved because he's worked so hard in so many different areas.
"Beyond that, he came into our program, played so hard, and conditioned at such a high level. The guys love playing with him. It's fun to watch him develop."
Tre finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists from 26 minutes.
The performance is likely to have Taran under consideration for another Freshman of the Week honour from the Western Athletic Conference having already scooped the award three times.
The result ensured that the Lancers' unbeaten home record was continued with their sixth double-digit winning margin ahead of their trip to crosstown rivals UC Riverside.
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Adam Daunt
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
