BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? With CSUB's best shooter slowed by an injury and Utah Valley University's best shooter on fire, perhaps the outcome of Saturday night's NCAA Division I independent showdown was inevitable. But Bakersfield made a game of it until the bitter end before succumbing 85?74 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

CSUB played most of the game without senior leader Zack Grasmick (Strathmore/Granite Hills HS), who saw a season?low 16 minutes nursing a calf strain from earlier in the week. Not only is Grasmick Bakersfield No. 2 career three?point shooter, he is also the defender who would have shadowed UVU ace Ryan Toolson.
Toolson took advantage of Grasmick's absence to torch the 'Runner defense for 32 points, scoring 16 in each half.

CSUB (6?13 overall) seemed to get momentum in its favor when Toolson picked up his fourth foul six minutes into the second half of what was a two?point, 45?43 game in favor of UVU. But Toolson's teammates stepped up in his absence, stretching the lead to 60?50 midway through the second half.

Bakersfield made a run to trim the deficit to three points at 64?61. But then Toolson subbed back in a ran a dagger into CSUB's comeback.

The 'Runners had played 30 seconds of stifling defense and appeared ready to get the ball back with a chance to tie the game. But Toolson leaned under a defender and banked in a three?pointer from two steps beyond the arc to get the Wolverine lead back to six points.

On the ensuing CSUB possession, 2,002 'Runner fans ? minus a few UVU faithful ? saw a block with their hearts, but the officials called a charge on junior swingman Terrence Johns. The Wolverines scored the next five points and the 'Runners never got close again.

Freshman guard Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) led a balanced CSUB effort with 17 points. Freshman guard Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy), recovering nicely from a ankle injury, came off the bench to add 15 points.

CSUB returns to action Wednesday when it opens a five?game road trip at Long Beach State. The 'Runners return home to host Long Beach State Feb. 16.

UTAH VALLEY UNIV. (7-13 overall) -- Toolson 8-14 10-10 32; Brady 4-7 5-6 13; Troyer 5-11 0-0 11; Olsen 4-10 1-1 11; Woods 3-5 2-2 8; Komenda 3-4 0-3 6; Swarbrick 1-2 2-4 4; Ravenberg 0-1 0-0 0; Anderson 0-0 0-0 0; Jinna 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-55 20-26 85.

CSUB (6-13 overall) -- Bragg 4-9 9-12 17; Johnson 5-8 1-1 15; Lee 3-3 8-9 14; Johns 4-9 1-2 10; Blakley 3-9 2-2 8; Hall 1-5 4-6 6; C. Brown 1-1 0-0 2; Grasmick 1-3 0-0 2; Robinson 0-0 0-0 0; R. Brown 0-1 0-0 0; Rose 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-48 25-32 74.

3-point goals--UVU 9-19 (Toolson 6-11; Olsen 2-4; Troyer 1-3; Jinna 0-1), CSUB 5-15 (Johnson 4-6; Johns 1-4; Blakley 0-2; Grasmick 0-2; Bragg 0-1). Fouled out--UVU-Troyer, Komenda; CSUB-Hall. Rebounds--UVU 33 (Brady 9), CSUB 27 (Blakley 9). Assists--UVU 15 (Komenda, Brady 3), CSUB 8 (Bragg 3). Total fouls--UVU 28, CSUB 23. Technical fouls--UVU-None; CSUB-None. A-2002.