ROADRUNNERS (1–9) at CAL STATE FULLERTON (4–6)
DECEMBER 28, 2009  •  7:00 p.m.
TITAN GYMNASIUM  •  FULLERTON, CALIF.
KERN NEWSTALK 1180 AM  •  NO TELEVISION FOR THIS GAME

After opening the season with 3 consecutive wins—including a double–overtime win at UCLA—the Titans were receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll…they have lost 6 of 7 since then, with the lone win coming over Occidental College on Dec. 12…the Titans are averaging a respectable 71.3 ppg despite no individual scoring more than Jer'Vaughn Johnson's 11.0 ppg…Johnson also leads the team in rebounding at 5.7 rpg…Aaron Thompson is the only other Titan scoring in double figures at 10.2 ppg…Jacques Streeter chips in a team–best 3.9 apg.

SERIES HISTORY

• Fullerton leads the all–time series 9–2.
• Fullerton leads the series in Bakerfield, 4–1.
• After CSUB won the first two meetings, Fullerton has stormed back to win the last 9 games in the series.
• Josh Akognon averaged 36.5 points in Fullerton's 2 games with CSUB last season.
• Akognon scored 42 points in the game at Fullerton.
• Santwon Latunde came off the bench to lead CSUB with 19 points and 9 rebounds in the game at Fullerton.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
2009    CSUF 78, 'RUNNERS 73
2009    @CSUF 87, 'RUNNERS 64
2008    CSUF 84, @'RUNNERS 80
2008    @CSUF 92, 'RUNNERS 75
1986    @CSUF 83, 'RUNNERS 46
1976    CSUF 101, @'RUNNERS 69
1975    CSUF 64, @'RUNNERS 59
1974    CSUF 37, @'RUNNERS 35
1974    @CSUF 76, 'RUNNERS 63
1973    'RUNNERS 64, @CSUF 57
1973    @'RUNNERS 69, CSUF 54

Roadrunner basketball advance tickets may be purchased online at www.TicketMaster.com. Either click the preceeding link or visit TicketMaster.com and search for "CSUB." Six exciting NCAA Division I basketball contests remaining on the home schedule, including games against former Roadrunner Head coach Pat Douglass and UC Irvine (Feb. 3) and a rematch with defending Big West Conference champion Cal State Northridge (Feb. 10).

Don't miss out on any of the action! Call (661) 654–BLUE  or CLICK HERE for more information.

WHEN LAST WE MET: A furious Roadrunner comeback erased nearly all of a 13–point deficit in the final five minutes, but Cal State Fullerton held on at the end for a 78–73 victory on Mar. 3 in Rabobank Arena. Fullerton led 72–59 with 4:49 to play when a 9–0 run got CSUB to within 72–68. The 'Runners eventually made it a one possession game at 73–70 before the Titans righted the ship.

Senior guard Terrence Johns led CSUB with 16 points in his final collegiate game. Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) and Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) added 15 points apiece as five 'Runners scored in double figures. Josh Akognon led all scorers with 32 points for the Titans.

GOOD RIDDANCE: While the 'Runners welcome the chance to continue their rivalry with Cal State Fullerton this season, they will be happy that Josh Akognon won't be suiting up for the Titans Monday. Over the past two season, Akognon caught fire against CSUB to the tune of 114 points in four games (a 28.5 points per game average). He scored 42 points in the game at Fullerton last season—the most by a Roadrunner opponent since Dewan Scott of Seton Hall scored 47 on Dec. 20, 1977.

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES: Trent Blakley continues to be not only CSUB's leading scorer, but one of the top scorers among NCAA Division I Independent players as well. Despite scoring a season–low 10 points at San Francisco last week, Blakley entered Christmas break ranked No. 3 among NCAA Division I Independent scores by averaging 15.9 points per game. With the season one third over, it's worth noting that he is on pace for the 11th–best scoring season (462 points) in Roadrunner history.

TOP 10 LIST: Trent Blakley crashed through the door to earn a spot on the CSUB career top 10 scoring list with his 21–point effort at San Jose State on Dec. 9. He enters Monday's game with 979 points in three–plus seasons. He passed Reggie Phillips (921) and Troy Price (923) to move into the No. 9 spot. If he maintains his current scoring pace, he will finish as CSUB's No. 4 all–time leading scorer with nearly 1,300 career points.

LATUNDE ON THE REBOUND: Although a slight injury took its toll on his playing time the past few games, Santwon Latunde continues to be a force on the glass for the 'Runners. Having led CSUB in rebounding in five of 10 games this season, he enters Monday's game tied for third among NCAA Division I Independent rebounders at 7.8 rebounds per game. His 15 rebounds opening night against Santa Clara were a career high, bettering his personal record of 14 set against Cal State Northridge last Nov. 21. They were the most by a Roadrunner since Donald Lee grabbed 15 boards against Cal State Fullerton in March of 2008.

DOUBLE–DOUBLE TRIO ADDS A FOURTH: CSUB's double–double club added a fourth member last week when sophomore forward Donald Johnson (Lancaster/Eastern Arizona) picked up his first at the NCAA level with 20 points and 13 boards at San Jose State. His effort should have come as little surprise after he averaged a double–double (12.1 points, 10.1 rebounds) at Eastern Arizona last season.

Santwon Latunde and Trent Blakley combined for nine double–doubles last season and each has one so far in 2009–10. Joining their fraternity is Stephon Carter (Garces HS), who corralled his first collegiate double–double with 15 points and a career–high 11 rebounds at Cal State Northridge.

A BETTER THAN 50–50 CHANCE: Since February 2000, the 'Runners are 36–3 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, with all three losses coming last season. Prior to that, CSUB hadn't wasted such an effort since shooting 56.4 percent (31–for–55) but dropping an 84–79 decision at Chico State on Feb. 18, 2000.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: Close games weren't friendly to the 'Runners last season—and this season started the same way. After after falling in overtime at San Jose State Dec. 9, 84–80, the 'Runners have dropped eight of their last nine games decided by four or fewer points.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? The first quarter of this season continued to prove that 40 minutes seems to be about five minutes more than the 'Runners have needed to decide games since moving to the NCAA Division I level. In 74 games played since making the jump, CSUB is 15–1 when leading after the first 35 minutes. On the flip side, the 'Runners have just five wins (5–53) trailing with five minutes remaining.

IF THEY COULD PICK THE FIVE MINUTES: If the 'Runners could pick any five minutes not to play, they would likely be the five minutes right after halftime. In their last three games, the 'Runners have been out–scored by 34 points (11.3 points per game) in that span.

ONE HALF DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE: For the most part, the 'Runners have been very competitive for at least one half of every game. Of the 20 halves CSUB has played this season, it has been within four points (or led) in 10 of them.

ANOTHER HALF NOTE: Wednesday evening in San Francisco, the Dons scored four points in the final four second of the first half to grab a 31–30 lead at the break. CSUB has not held a halftime lead since taking a 32–22 advantage into the break at Utah Valley University on Feb. 20, a span of 13 games.

WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW: Freshman guard Stephon Carter certainly made a big splash in his collegiate debut against Santa Clara on Nov. 13. The 14 points he scored were the most by a Roadrunner freshman in his debutante performance since at least 1994 (as far back as single game statistics are available). No other Roadrunner freshman in that time frame ever debuted with more than eight points.

PUT A LID ON IT: Despite working for good opportunities, the lid hasn't come off the CSUB basket yet this season. Ten games into the season, the 'Runner offense is still looking to heat up shooting the ball. Their season–best shooting percentage is just 44 percent (17–of–39 vs. Utah State). They've been under 40 percent in five of 10 games this season.

TEST AGAINST THE BEST: Utah State was the third of six 2009 NCAA Tournament participants the Roadrunners will meet this season. They've already faced UCLA and Cal State Northridge. In addition to a rematch at home against Northridge (Feb. 10), the 'Runners also will battle Cincinnati (Jan. 6) and Gonzaga (Mar. 2) on the road.

ON AND OFF THE COURT: The move to NCAA Division I has increased CSUB's competitiveness in the classroom as well as on the court. Since it began playing full Division I schedules, the Roadrunner men's basketball team has posted a perfect graduation rate. Last season's team posted a perfect APR score of 1,000 as well.

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 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.

38 YEARS OF CSUB BASKETBALL: The 2009–2010 season marks the 39th 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 746–357 (.676).

'RUNNERS vs. DI COMPETITION: Although 2009–10 is just the third time the Roadrunners have taken on a full NCAA Division I schedule, Bakersfield already has a bit of history in NCAA Division I play. The 'Runners own an all–time mark of 34–96 in 130 games against 48 different Division I opponents. Note that this mark does not include games against current DI teams that were not DI when they met CSUB.

WE MEET AGAIN: The 'Runners may be relative new kids on the block at the NCAA Division I level, but they possess a wealth of experience against the Division I opponents they will meet this season. CSUB entered the season with an aggregate 106–108 all–time record against this season's opposition. Note that many of those results came when both CSUB and its opposition were competing at the Division II level.