BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Junior forward Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) nailed his first eight shots en route to a career-high 26 point night, but the CSUB men's basketball team cooled off in the second half and 2008 NCAA Tournament participant the University of San Diego eased away for a 77-65 win Monday at Rabobank Arena.
Blakley finished with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field. He also made all six of his three-point attempts. Terrence Johns (Chicago/Bakersfield College) came off the bench to add 17 points.
Center Gyno Pomare led USD with 24 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Johnson cooled off in the second half but still finished with 18 points and seven assists.
The game began as an old fashioned shootout between Blakley and USD guard Brandon Johnson, who made his first five shots as the teams traded leads before San Diego settled on a 39-35 halftime lead. By that time, Pomare also got hot for the Toreros, and the duo combined for 25 first-half points to counter the 20 posted by Blakley.
But CSUB cooled off considerably to start the second half while USD stayed hot. The Toreros were shooting 67 percent well into the second half while the Roadrunners fell below 40 percent in the period. Nevertheless, CSUB stayed close until a Johnson jumper from the free-throw line got the margin to 59-49, and it never dipped below 10 points again.
The win provided a measure of revenge for USD. While the Toreros defeated Kentucky, Saint Mary's and Gonzaga last season before knocking off UConn in the NCAA Tournament, the Roadrunners earned an 80-72 upset last January in San Diego.
CSUB will hit the road for five consecutive games, beginning with a Wednesday night contest at Big West Conference power the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
The Roadrunners will return home to face another NCAA Tournament qualifier, Boise State, Dec. 20.
Univ. of San Diego 77, CSU Bakersfield 65
UNIV. OF SAN DIEGO (4-3) -- Pomare 10-13 4-4 24; Johnson 7-13 2-2 18; Dorr 5-8 1-2 14; Jones 6-10 1-2 13; Ginty 3-6 0-0 8; Harbour 0-0 0-0 0; Houston 0-0 0-0 0; Mafra 0-1 0-0 0; Brown 0-0 0-0 0; Lewis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-51 8-10 77.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (3-3) -- Blakley 10-11 0-0 26; Johns 4-8 8-10 17; Latunde 2-7 2-3 6; Johnson 1-5 2-2 5; Carlson 1-4 1-2 3; Lara 1-4 1-2 3; Emanuel 1-2 0-0 3; Bragg 1-6 0-1 2; Lee 0-1 0-0 0; C. Brown 0-1 0-0 0; R. Brown 0-0 0-0 0; Dennis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 14-20 65.
Halftime--3-point goals--USD 7-13 (Dorr 3-5; Ginty 2-4; Johnson 2-4), CSUB 9-18 (Blakley 6-6; Emanuel 1-2; Johnson 1-4; Johns 1-2; Bragg 0-2; Carlson 0-2). Fouled out--CSUB-Lee. Rebounds--USD 26 (Pomare 9), CSUB 21 (Latunde 4; Blakley 4). Assists--USD 15 (Johnson 7), CSUB 12 (Bragg 6). Total fouls--USD 20, CSUB 17. Technical fouls--None. A-1529
