BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team grabbed victory by the tip Thursday night, taking a 76-74 thriller from Cal State Monterey Bay at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield (9-10, 8-4 CCAA) won by two tips, actually. Freshman forward Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) tipped in a Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) miss at the first half buzzer to give the Roadrunners a 41-40 halftime lead. Senior center Carl Damus (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Pensacola CC) then one-upped Blakley, tipping in another miss with 1.1 seconds remaining in regulation to break a 74-74 tie and give Bakersfield a narrow victory.
Blakley came off the bench to lead five 'Runners in double figures with 13 points. Rice added 12 points and Damus scored 11 to lead Bakersfield.
Sophomore center Joe Mitchell led all scorers with 21 points for Monterey Bay (9-8, 6-6). Richard Jenkins chipped in 16 points.
Bakersfield seemed poised to put this game away early, jumping out to a 14-4 lead less than four minutes after the opening tip. But in what would become a theme, Monterey Bay knocked down key big shots and took advantage of virtually every free throw opportunity, finishing 18-of-21 at the line, to claw its way back.
The Otters grabbed four leads in the first half, all by one point, before Blakely's tip in at the buzzer gave the 'Runners a 41-40 lead at the half. The second half played out in much the same fashion, with Bakersfield grabbing a 10-point lead at 68-58 before the Otters responded yet again.
Two consecutive three pointers by Augie Johnston–including one from beyond the NBA three-point line as the shot clock expired—gave Monterey Bay its final lead at 71-70 with 2:18 remaining. But a 12-foot baseline floater from freshman guard Robert Rose—just the second basket of his collegiate career—put the 'Runners back on top and set up the fantastic finish.
A Jenkins layup with 30 second remaining tied the game at 74-74. With 17 second on the clock, Bakersfield called timeout to set up the final play. Rice drove the lane, knifing through traffic to lay the ball off the left side of the glass.
His shot rolled off the front of the rim, but Damus was there to tip in the game-winner.
Bakersfield continues its five-game homestand Saturday night against San Francisco State in Rabobank Arena.
CS MONTEREY BAY (9–8, 6–6 CCAA): Richard Jenkins 6-12 4-4 16; Dante Green 3-5 0-0 6; Joe Mitchell 6-12 7-7 21; D'Shon Cannon 2-2 6-8 10; Augie Johnston 4-11 1-2 10; Jose Sanchez 3-9 0-0 8; Matt Evans 0-1 0-0 0; Aeshraff Dabbas 0-3 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24-55 18-21 74.
CS BAKERSFIELD (9–10, 8–4 CCAA): Richard Andrews 5-6 0-0 10; Zack Grasmick 2-8 2-2 8; Carl Damus 5-6 1-3 11; Dwuan Rice 4-10 3-4 12; Randall Harding 3-3 0-2 6; Robert Rose 2-3 0-1 4; Brandon Robinson 0-1 0-0 0; Trent Blakley 5-6 2-3 13; Demarcus Hall 1-2 0-0 2; Rick Robinson 4-7 2-4 10. TOTALS: 31-52 10-19 76.
HALFTIME: CSUB 41-40. 3-PT. FG: MB 8-17 (Johnston 4-6, Mitchell 2-4, , Sanchez 2-5 Jenkins 0-1, Green 0-1); CSUB 4-17 (Grasmick 2-8, Blakley 1-2, Rice 1-5, Rose 0-1, B. Robinson 0-1). REBOUNDS: MB 23 (Mitchell 8); CSUB 38 (Andrews 8). ASSISTS: MB 13 (Mitchell 4); CSUB 14 (Harding 5). TURNOVERS: MB 11, CSUB 21. BLOCKS: MB 0; CSUB 7 (R. Robinson 4). STEALS: MB 8 (Cannon 3); CSUB 6 (Andrews 2). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: Andrews. OFFICIALS: Starkins, Pultz, Kelley. ATTN: 2,044.
