FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THIS
RELEASE, COMPLETE WITH STATISTICS, SCHEDULES AND ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE (IF AVAILABLE) OR VISIT
WWW.GORUNNERS.COM.
UP NEXT: The Roadrunner men's basketball team (7-15 overall) continues its
five-game roadtrip that will ultimately cover more than 8,000 miles
round trip with a stop at the University of Wyoming Wednesday (Feb. 6).
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie.
ON THE AIR: As always, you can follow all of the
action on the radio at KERN NewsTalk 1410 AM. Corey Costelloe will call
the play-by-play.
COWBOY NOTES (8-12 overall): Wyoming had a 2?game win streak snapped Sat. vs. BYU ...has lost 6 of its last 8 ...Wyoming has no common opponents with CSUB...Jr. G Brandon Ewing leads 3 Cow-boy starters in double figures at 17.5 ppg...chips in a team?best 4.6 apg...Sr. G Brad Jones adds 12.8 ppg and 3.9 apg...So. F Ryan Dermody is the third member of the double?figure triumvirate at 10.4 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first?ever meeting between CSUB and Wyoming...This will be just the sixth all?time meeting in any team sport between the two schools...CSUB holds a 3?1 edge over the Cowboys in wrestling, though the
teams haven't met since 1991...Wyoming's volleyball team beat CSUB 3?1 in 1991.
THIS DATE IN ROADRUNNER HISTORY: The 'Runners rolled to a 75?61 win over Cal State L.A. on Feb. 6, 1993. They would go on to the first 33?0 season in NCAA basketball history.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Roadrunners will play game four of their five?game road trip Wednesday when they make their first?ever trip to Laramie, Wyoming. The trip includes stops in four states: California (Long Beach State, San Jose State); Oregon (Univ. of Portland); Texas (UT?Pan American) and Wyoming (Univ. of Wyoming). By the time the 'Runners return to Bakersfield on Feb. 13, they will have covered 23 days and 8,088 miles round trip.
ROAD SWEET ROAD: Returning to the road road may actually be a good thing for the 'Runners, who have won four of their last six games away from Rabobank Arena.
A DIFFERENT STATE OF MIND: When the 'Runners tip with the Cowboys Wednesday night, it will mark the first time a CSUB team has competed in the state of Wyoming. Their five previous team sport meetings with Wyoming in wrestling (4) and volleyball (1) came either in Bakersfield or at neutral sites.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: The Roadrunners have been very generous this season when it comes to sharing the statistical glory. Through the first 22 games of 2007?08, seven different players have led the team in scoring while eight different players have led the team in rebounding. See page six of this release for the detailed lists.
BALANCING ACT: Although junior swingman Terrence Johns (Chicago/Bakersfield College) is the only 'Runner averaging in double figures, Head Coach Keith Brown has not had a problem finding double?figure scorers this season. When Donald Lee (L.A. Pierce College) notched 14 points versus Utah Valley, he became the 10th 'Runner to reach that plateau in 2007?08.
DOUBLE?DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE: Sophomore forward Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) continued his strong run of recent play, notching his first career double?double in CSUB's thrilling overtime win at Long Beach State. He became the fifth different 'Runner this season to record a double?double.
For the record, the others are: Cory Brown, Terrence Johns, Santwon Latunde and Demarcus Hall (twice).
'RUNNERS AMONG THE INDEPENDENT LEADERS: CSUB continues to be well?represented among the NCAA Division I Independent statistical leaders. Leading the way are freshmen Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) and Alex Johns (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy) as well as senior guard Zack Grasmick (Strathmore/Granite Hills HS) each of whom appears in two categories.
Johnson is third in three?point percentage (44.4) and sixth in assists (3.2 apg). Bragg is fourth in assists (3.5 apg) and ninth in free throw percentage (73.2). Grasmick is sixth in three?point percentage (41.9) and 10th in assists (2.7 apg).
Also among the leaders are Terrence Johns, who is ninth in scoring at 13.6 ppg; freshman forward Cory Brown (Lakeside/El Capitan HS), who is fourth in blocked shots at 1.0 bpg; and Trent Blakley, who is eighth in rebounding at 5.5 rpg.
...AND THE LITTLE ONES SHALL LEAD THEM: With an eye towards the future, the Roadrunners continue to play a rotation that leans heavily on their younger players. Freshmen and sophomores account for 53 of CSUB's 110 total starts this season and have played 2,325 of a possible 4,450 minutes this season (52 percent).
CLOSING IN ON THE CENTURY MARK: When Zack Grasmick takes the floor at Wyoming on Wednesday, he will be playing in the 98th game of his Roadrunner career. He is looking to become just the ninth Roadrunner ever to play in 100 or more games.
MOVING INTO THE TOP 20: Zack Grasmick can reach another milestone at Wyoming. His next assist will be No. 151 for his career. That will tie him with Randall Harding for the No. 20 spot on the CSUB all?time assist list.
'RUNNERS VS. DI COMPETITION: Although 2007?08 is the first time the Roadrunners take on a full NCAA Division I schedule, it does not mark the first Bakersfield foray into NCAA Division I play. The 'Runners own an all?time mark of 24?59 in 83 games against 40 different Division I opponents. Note that this mark does not include games against current DI teams that were not DI when they met.
36 YEARS OF CSUB BASKETBALL: The 2007?2008 season marks the 37th anniversary of Roadrunner men's basketball at CSUB. Since the program's inception in 1971?72, the Roadrunners have posted an impressive all?time record of 737?321 (.697).
WHERE OTHERS HAVE GONE BEFORE: Making the leap from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I play is a big step. It's also a step taken by several Roadrunner rivals over the past few seasons. Bakersfield is the sixth West Region school to make the jump since 1990. The others are: Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, Sacramento State, UC Davis and UC Riverside.
In fact, DII of and the California Collegiate Athletic Association have been jumping off points for many of the current DI programs in the West. All nine Big West Conference members are former DII schools and all but UC Irvine were formerly in the CCAA. Other former DII and CCAA schools from the West include Fresno State, Pepperdine, San Diego State and San Jose State.
