Men's Basketball January 12, 2007 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Long-Awaited Home Opener A Success for 'Runner Men

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The long wait for the first home game of the season proved worthwhile for the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team as it earned a 66–50 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in its home opener before 4,768 Friday night at Rabobank Arena.

After a season–opening road trip that spanned 12 games and 62 days, CSUB (6-7, 5-1 CCAA) made the opening basket then never looked back. The Roadrunners built a 10–point lead midway through the first half and led by as many as 25 points in the second half before settling on the 16–point final margin of victory.

Senior forward Richard Andrews (Kingston, Jamaica/SE Illinois) posted a 14–point, 10–rebound double–double to pace a balanced Roadrunners offense. Senior guard Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) chipped in 14 points while junior guard Brandon Robinson (Los Angeles/Golden West College) came off the bench to add a career–high 12 points on 4-of-9 three–point shooting.

The story of the game for the CSUB, however, was defense. The 'Runners held CSUDH to just 22 points in the first half then opened the second half by limiting the Toros to just four points over the first nine minutes of the second half as they opened their biggest lead at 51–26.

The 'Runners forced 17 turnovers in the game and out–rebounded Dominguez Hills 31–21 to mitigate 16 turnovers of their own.

Senior guard Carlos Rivers came off the bench to lead the Toros with 13 points, including a pair of NBA range three–point field goals in the second half. He was the only Toro to reach double figures Friday night.

CSUB hopes to continue enjoying the novelty of home cooking Saturday night, hosting UC San Diego at Rabobank Arena. CSUDH (5-6, 2-4 CCAA) returns to Souther California to play at Cal State L.A. Saturday night.

CS DOMINGUEZ HILLS (5–6, 2–4 CCAA): Gabe Bernard 4-10 0-0 8; Shamont Brown 3-5 0-0 8; Jonathan Toliver 1-2 0-0 2; Jamaal Barnes 2-4 0-0 4; Mike Steed 1-3 2-4 5; Murphy Cooper 0-0 0-0 0; Ryan Walton 1-3 0-0 2; Nonso Nibo 2-3 2-2 6; Carlos Rivers 5-11 0-0 13; Jamel Ward 0-2 0-1 0; Demetrius Love 0-0 0-0 0; Trevon Bryant 1-2 0-0 2; Vernon Ramey 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 20-45 4-7 50.

CS BAKERSFIELD (6–7, 5–1 CCAA): Randall Harding 1-1 3-4 5; Ricahrd Andrews 4-8 5-6 14; Demarcus Hall 1-5 2-2 4; Dwuan Rice 5-9 2-2 14; Zack Grasmick 3-7 0-0 9; Robert Rose 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Robinson 4-10 0-0 12; Trent Blakley 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Nevens 0-0 2-2 2; Carl Damus 3-6 0-0 6; Rick Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 21-46 14-16 66.

HALFTIME: CSUB 32-22. 3-PT. FG: CSDH 6-12 (Rivers 3-5, Brown 2-2, Steed 1-2, Bernard 0-3); CSUB 10-24 (B. Robinson 4-9, Grasmick 3-7; Rice 2-4, Andrews 1-3, Hall 0-1). REBOUNDS: CSDH 21 (Ward 4); CSUB 31 (Andrews 10). ASSISTS: CSDH 12 (Ward 4); CSUB 14 (Grasmick 5). TURNOVERS: CSDH 17, CSUB 16. BLOCKS: CSDH 1 (Barnes); CSUB 2 (Andrews, Damus). STEALS: CSDH 3 (Steed 2); CSUB 9 (Rice 5). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: Stowe, Starkins, Sarrett. ATT: 4,768.