BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team couldn't overcome 25 minutes of lethargic basketball with 15 minutes of inspired play as Sonoma State won in Bakersfield for the second consecutive season, 65-58 Thursday night at Rabobank Arena.
Sonoma State (6-7, 5-4 CCAA) played a crisp, efficient first half, breaking open a close game late in the half to take an eight-point lead at intermission. The Seawolves continued their solid play to open the second half and quickly built their biggest lead of 19 points, 49-30, less than five minutes into the period.
Led by senior guard Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) the Roadrunners staged an epic comeback that nearly pulled the game out of the fire. Rice scored 17 points in the second half to get Bakersfield back to within two points 56-54 with with 4:11 remaining.
The 'Runner defense then rose up to force another stop and Rice had an open look at a three-pointer to give the 'Runners an improbable lead, but the shot was just long and they never held the ball with a chance to take the lead again.
Rice was one of four Roadrunners to score in double figures Thursday night. Senior forward Richard Andrews scored 12 points while Randall Harding chipped in 11. Senior center Carl Damus came off the bench to add 10.
Senior forward J.T. Tipton, the second-leading scorer in the CCAA, led all scorers with 20 points for Sonoma Thursday night. He also chipped in a game-high seven rebounds. Andrew Kochevar added 12 points, including two big three-pointers in the second half to help the Seawolves gain separation and then hold on for the win.
Bakersfield (7-8, 6-2 CCAA) returns to action Saturday night when it hosts CCAA newcomer Humboldt State at 7:30 p.m. Sonoma State travels south to meet Cal State L.A. Saturday night.
SONOMA STATE (6–7, 5–4 CCAA): J.T. Tipton 6-9 6-7 20; Kevin Cornwell 2-4 0-0 4; Andrew Kochevar 4-6 1-1 12; Patrick Mitchell 3-5 0-0 7; Jeff Fuller 1-2 0-0 2; Ben Washington 2-7 1-3 5; Mike Carr 3-6 0-0 6; Keith Garner 0-1 0-0 0; Jeremy Smith 1-1 0-0 3 Barry Weiss 3-7 0-0 6; Kyle Shandera 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 25-48 8-11 65.
CS BAKERSFIELD (7–8, 6–2 CCAA): Richard Andrews 3-12 4-6 12; Demarcus Hall 0-4 0-0 0; Dwuan Rice 8-18 0-0 19; Randall Harding 4-9 2-4 11; Zack Grasmick 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Robinson 0-1 0-0 0; Trent Blakley 1-3 1-2 4; Carl Damus 5-11 0-0 10; Rick Robinson 0-1 2-2 2. TOTALS: 21-59 9-14 58.
HALFTIME: SSU 31-28. 3-PT. FG: SSU 7-18 (Kochevar 3-5, Tipton 2-4, Smith 1-1, Mitchell 1-2, Cornwell 0-1, Washington 0-2, Carr 0-3,); CSUB 7-22 (Rice 3-10, Andrews 2-7, Blakley 1-2, B. Robinson 0-1). REBOUNDS: SSU 34 (Tipton 7); CSUB 30 (Andrews 7). ASSISTS: SSU 15 (Mitchell, Washington 4); CSUB 4 (Harding 3). TURNOVERS: SSU 15, CSUB 7. BLOCKS: SSU 0; CSUB 2 (Harding, Blakley). STEALS: SSU 5 (5 with 1); CSUB 12 (Andrews 4). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: De. White, Da. White, Tackett. ATTN: 1,848.
