SAN DIEGO – Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco. The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball left its defense there. That fact proved decisive Tuesday night as the University of San Diego ran past the Roadrunners 92–72 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego.
Bakersfield (2–4 overall) jumped to a quick 4–0 lead to open the game, but it was all Toreros from that point. USD (4–4) out–rebounded the Roadrunners 14–3 while forcing six turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game. Although 11 early points from Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) helped the 'Runners pull to within 19–18, a quick 11–0 USD run put the 'Runners in a 31–18 hole from which they could not escape.
USD out–rebounded the 'Runners 24–7 in the first half while shooting 56 percent (19-of-34) from the floor. CSUB picked up its intensity in the second half, forging a 19–16 edge on the glass while turning the ball over just five times, but the Toreros shot even better from the floor, nailing 62 percent of their shots. The result was a virtual draw over the final 20 minutes.
Rice led the 'Runners with a game–high 18 points. Freshman guard Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) came off the bench to add 12 points. Richard Andrews (Kingston, Jamaica) and Rick Robinson (Ocho Rios, Jamaica) shared game–high honors with five rebounds.
Part of CSUB's problems might have been solved by the physical presence of senior center Carl Damus, but he played just eight minutes—all in the first half—before Head Coach Keith Brown pulled him because he was unhappy with his effort. Damus finished with no point and no rebounds for the first time since returning from injury at Long Beach State on Nov. 17.
Sophomore forward Gyno Pomare came off the bench to lead USD with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Senior forward Theo White also chipped in a double–double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Roadrunners will stay in the West Coast Conference but head 400 miles up Interstate 5 to play Saint Mary's College Saturday in Moraga.
CS BAKERSFIELD (2–4): Richard Andrews 2-4 7-8 11; Carl Damus 0-1 0-0 0; Dwuan Rice 6-18 2-3 18; Randall Harding 4-8 0-0 9; Zack Grasmick 1-3 0-0 2; Robert Rose 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Robinson 2-7 0-0 6; Trent Blakley 5-10 0-0 12; Brandon Nevens 1-2 0-0 2; Demarcus Hall 2-3 4-5 8; Rick Robinson 1-4 2-2 4. TOTALS: 24-60 15-18 72.
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO (4–4): Chris Lewis 3-7 2-3 8; Theo White 5-7 1-2 11; Daniel Fleming 6-6 0-0 16; Brandon Johnson 5-7 2-2 12; Ross DeRogatis 3-9 0-0 8; Clayton Tolbert 0-1 0-0 0; Greg Nelson 0-1 0-0 0; Danny Brown 2-4 0-0 6; Patrick Lacey 0-0 0-0 0; Gyno Pomare 7-13 3-5 17; Kyle Price 1-2 0-0 3; De'Jon Jackson 5-6 0-0 11. TOTALS: 37-63 8-12 92.
HALFTIME: USD 50-32. 3-PT. FG: CSUB 9-21 (Rice 4-7, B. Robinson 2-5, Blakley 2-5, Harding 1-1, Andrews 0-1); USD 10-20 (Fleming 4-4, Brown 2-3, DeRogatis 2-7, Price 1-1, Jackson 1-1, Lewis 0-1, Tolbert 0-1, Nelson 0-1). REBOUNDS: CSUB 26 (Andrews, R. Robinson 5); USD 40 (Pomare 13). ASSISTS: CSUB 11 (Rice 5); USD 18 (Johnson 7). TURNOVERS: CSUB 13, USD 15. BLOCKS: CSUB 2 (Andrews, Robinson); USD 3 (3 with 1). STEALS: CSUB 8 (B. Robinson, B. Nevens 2); USD 7 (Johnson 4). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: Andrews. OFFICIALS: Wood, Suffren, Bannowsky. ATTN: 1,538.
