BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Perhaps taking heed that visiting UC San Diego had upset a pair of NCAA Division II top five ranked teams early in the season, the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team played its most complete game of the season Saturday night to upend the Tritons 67–36 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Senior guard Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) saw a string of 14 consecutive regular season games scoring in double figures end, but nevertheless played one of his most complete games as a Roadrunner. Rice scored just seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, but he dished for a season-high nine assists, grabbed five rebounds and helped hold UCSD leading scorer Clint Allard scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting.
Rice wasn't alone in his efforts, however, as every Roadrunner in uniform played and scored in a balanced offensive effort. Senior forward Richard Andrews (Kingston, Jamaica/SE Illinois) rebounded from early foul trouble that limited him to one point in the first half to finish with a game–high 13 points. Junior guard Zack Grasmick (Strathmore/Granite Hills HS) chipped in 12 points on 4-of-5 three–point shooting.
Sophomore forward Henry Patterson led UCSD with 12 points.
The teams played at a slower pace that normally would have favored UCSD, but not on a night where Bakersfield did almost everything right. UCSD scored the first basket of the game, but it was all 'Runners from that point.
The Roadrunners shot a season–best 57 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range (10-of-21). They also out–rebounded the Tritons 33–13.
But the game's meandering pace allowed the Tritons to stay within shouting distance, trailing just 23–16 at the half. But UCSD made just five field goals in the first half, and that stat did not bode well for its second-half comeback possibilities. Bakersfield quickly reestablished a double–digit lead early in the second half and gradually pulled away to the 31–point final margin.
With the win, the 'Runners even their record at 7-7 overall and maintain a share of the CCAA lead at 6-1. The 'Runners return to action Thursday night when they host defending CCAA champion Sonoma State at Rabobank Arena.
UCSD (4-8, 2-5) returns home to host Cal State San Bernardino Friday night.
UC SAN DIEGO (4–8, 2–5 CCAA): Darryl Lawlor 2-3 0-0 6; Henry Patterson 3-5 6-6 12; Robby Peters 3-7 0-0 8; Kelvin Kim 0-1 0-0 0; Clint Allard 0-5 0-0 0; Jordan Lawley 1-3 1-2 4; Alan Husted 0-0 0-0 0; Shane Poppen 0-3 2-4 2; Tyler Acevedo 0-2 0-0 0; Jon Ward 1-2 0-0 2; Andrew Browning 1-1 0-1 2; Brett Stuckey 0-2 0-0 0; A.J. Maulhardt 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 11-35 9-13 36.
CS BAKERSFIELD (7–7, 6–1 CCAA): Richard Andrews 3-4 5-7 13; Zack Grasmick 4-6 0-0 12; Demarcus Hall 2-5 2-2 7; Dwuan Rice 3-5 0-0 7; Randall Harding 2-2 0-0 4; Robert Rose 0-1 1-2 1; Brandon Robinson 1-7 0-0 3; Trent Blakley 4-6 1-2 9; Brandon Nevens 2-2 0-0 5; Carl Damus 2-2 0-0 4; Rick Robinson 1-2 0-0 2. TOTALS: 24-42 9-13 67.
HALFTIME: CSUB 23-16 3-PT. FG: UCSD 5-15 (Lawlor 2-2, Peters 2-5, Lawley 1-1, Poppen 0-1, Acevedo 0-1, Allard 0-5); CSUB 10-21 (Grasmick 4-5, Andrews 2-3, Hall 1-1, Nevens 1-1, Rice 1-3, B. Robinson 1-6, Rose 0-1, Blakley 0-1). REBOUNDS: UCSD 13 (3 with 2); CSUB 33 (Blakley 6). ASSISTS: UCSD 8 (Allard, Kim 3); CSUB 15 (Rice 9). TURNOVERS: UCSD 13, CSUB 12. BLOCKS: UCSD 0; CSUB 3 (R. Robinson 2). STEALS: UCSD 5 (Patterson 2); CSUB 5 (5 with 1). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: Janelli, Minnoy, Duren. ATTN: 2,221.
