CARSON, Calif. – Senior guard Dwuan Rice (Pasadena HS) gave a brilliant effort in his final Southern California appearance, scoring a game-high 25 points to lead Cal State Bakersfield past upset-minded Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday night at the Torodome in Carson.
Bakersfield (14-11, 16-5 CCAA) extended its season-best winning streak to four games, but it wasn't easy. The Roadrunners led by as many as 17 points in the first half and by as many as 13 in the second half before holding off a spirited Toro comeback that cut the Bakersfield lead to 71-70 with just over four minutes remaining.
Fittingly, Rice played a key role in thwarting the Dominguez Hills upset bid. He scored 15 points in the second half, including making 11-of-14 free throws. He also made two key steals down the stretch.
His biggest play came with 2:20 remaining and the 'Runners clinging to a 73-70 lead. He picked the pocket of Toro point guard Carlos Rivers near the center circle for the second time in three possessions and sauntered downcourt for the uncontested layup that gave Bakersfield a 75-70 edge.
Rice then closed out the game by making six free throws in the final 1:03.
The win keeps Bakersfield withing two games of first-place Humboldt State with four games remaining in the conference season. The
'Runners will have a chance to cut into that lead Thursday when they travel to Humboldt County to face the Lumberjacks.
CS BAKERSFIELD (14–11, 16–5 CCAA): Dwuan Rice 5-13 15-18 25; Richard Andrews 0-1 0-0 0; Brandon Robinson 1-4 0-0 2; Trent Blakley 5-10 3-3 14; Carl Damus 5-10 2-4 12; Randall Harding 3-4 3-4 9; Robert Rose 1-1 0-0 2; Zack Grasmick 3-5 0-0 9; Brandon Nevens 1-1 2-2 5; Demarcus Hall 0-0 1-2 1; Rick Robinson 1-2 0-0 2. TOTALS: 25-51 26-33 81.
CS DOMINGUEZ HILLS (10–13, 7–11 CCAA): Mike Steed 3-5 2-2 8; Carlos Rivers 4-11 4-4 14; Shamont Brown 6-7 1-2 13; Jonathan Toliver 1-5 4-4 7; Trevon Bryant 3-6 1-3 7; Gabe Bernard 2-9 0-0 6; Ryan Walton 0-3 0-0 0; Jamaal Barnes 4-4 1-1 9; Jamel Ward 2-5 1-3 5; Demetrius Love 0-2 3-4 3. TOTALS: 25-57 17-23 72.
HALFTIME: CSUB 46-34. 3-PT. FG: CSUB 5-13 (Grasmick 3-5, Nevens 1-1, Blakley 1-2, B. Robinson 0-2, Rice 0-3); CSDH 5-18 (Rivers 2-5, Bernard 2-6, Toliver 1-5, Walton 0-1, Ward 0-1). REBOUNDS: CSUB 31 (Damus, Harding 6); CSDH 34 (Bernard, Barnes 6). ASSISTS: CSUB 9 (4 with 2); CSDH 10 (Rivers 4). TURNOVERS: CSUB 9, CSDH 13. BLOCKS: CSUB 0; CSDH 2 (Bryant 2). STEALS: CSUB 5 (Rice 4); CSDH 4 (Steed 2). TECHNICALS: Andrews, Steed. FOULED OUT: Steed, Tolliver. OFFICIALS: McAllister, Williams, Chris Ruiz. ATTN: 511.
