BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team came out flat in a game it desperately needed to win and fell to Cal State L.A. 70-63 Tuesday night at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

The loss proved especially devastating to the Roadrunners (10-11, 9-5 CCAA) as conference leader Cal State San Bernardino fell at home to Cal Poly Pomona, 75-69, Tuesday night.

Dwuan Rice led all scorers with 22 points for Bakersfield. Carl Damus added a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Jontae Vinson led Cal State L.A. (7-12, 4-10) with 20 points.

Cal State L.A. proved to be every bit as good as the 6-12 record in brought into the game. But Bakersfield, already playing in a hole with senior forward Richard Andrews slowed by illness, came out listless and the Golden Eagles played with enough energy to take advantage.

The 'Runners led 7-6 early when a Vinson layup sparked an 11-0 run that put Cal State L.A. ahead to stay, 17-7. Bakersfield never got closer than eight points in the first half and trailed 38-24 at the break.

Thanks in large part to the play of Andrews, Bakersfield held Vinson, the CCAA's leading scorer at better than 22 points per game, to a season-low seven points on 3-of-15 shooting when the teams met in December. With Andrews playing just 20 minutes, and not a full strength, Vinson scored 11 first-half points to get the Golden Eagles rolling.

Bakersfield trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half before finally making a charge. The combination of a pressing, trapping 'Runner defense, poor free throw shooting and several careless turnovers by the Golden Eagles helped the 'Runners claw their way back.

The 'Runners cut the deficit to eight points at 63-55 with 3:40 to play when Rice picked Robert Reynaga's pocket at midcourt. But Rice missed the easy layup that would have made it a two possession game.

An ill-advised Vinson jumper gave the ball back to Bakersfield, but Damus made just one of two free throws on the ensuing possession to keep it a three possession game.

The Golden Eagles weren't done trying to give the game away, however, as Ralph Turner stepped out of bounds followed by a Trent Blakley layup that cut the deficit to 63-58. With the score 66-59, Rice nailed a long three to cut the deficit to four points with 14 second to play, then Vinson was assessed a technical foul for taunting Blakley. But Zack Grasmick, a better than 80 percent free throw shooter, made just one of two from the line and Reynaga made four free throws to ice the game for L.A.

The 'Runners return to action Thursday night when they host Chico State for a men's/women's doubleheader in Rabobank Arena.

CAL STATE L.A. (6–13, 4–10 CCAA): Donte Bell 0-1 0-0 0; Jontae Vinson 8-15 4-8 20; Junior Rodriguez 2-5 0-1 4; Vincent Camper 5-10 2-5 12; Robert Reynaga 5-10 4-4 19; Ralph Turner 3-11 2-4 11; Imani Mackie 0-1 0-0 0; Tyler Polo 2-2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 25-55 12-22 70.

CS BAKERSFIELD (10–11, 9–5 CCAA): Randall Harding 2-4 0-0 4; Zack Grasmick 1-5 1-2 3; Demarcus Hall 2-2 2-2 6; Carl Damus 4-8 2-4 22; Dwuan Rice 9-20 2-4 22; Richard Andrews 1-5 2-4 4; Robert Rose 0-1 0-0 0; Brandin Robinson 1-2 0-0 2; Trent Blakley 3-8 1-2 8; Rick Robinson 2-3 0-0 4. TOTALS: 25-58 10-18 63.

HALFTIME: CSLA 38-24. 3-PT. FG: CSLA 8-21 (Reynaga 5-9, Turner 3-11 Vinson 0-1); CSUB 3-11 (Rice 2-4, Blakley 1-4, B. Robinson 0-1, Grasmick 0-2). REBOUNDS: CSLA 33 (Rodriguez 10); CSUB 38 (Damus 10). ASSISTS: CSLA 13 (Camper 4); CSUB (Rice 5). TURNOVERS: CSLA 14, CSUB 18. BLOCKS: CSLA 6 (Vinson 3); CSUB 1 (Hall). STEALS: CSLA 10 (Rodriguez, Camper 3); CSUB 6 (Rice 4). TECHNICALS: Vinson. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: De. White, Tackett, Yee. ATTN: 1,324.