ROADRUNNERS (1–5) at SAN JOSE STATE (3–3)
DECEMBER 9, 2009 • 7:00 p.m.
THE EVENT CENTER • SAN JOSE, CALIF.
KERN NEWSTALK 1180 AM • NO TELEVISION FOR THIS GAME
SPARTAN SPECIFICS
San Jose State plays at San Francisco Monday before hosting CSUB…the Spartans enter the week off an 82–74 win at Utah Valley…Jr. F/G Adrian Oliver led SJSU with 17 points in the game and leads the team at 15.3 ppg for the season…SJSU got unusually balanced scoring at Utah Valley, with 39 points from the bench and 43 from the starters…Sr. C Chris Oakes, a transfer from Pepperdine, averages nearly a double–double with 9.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game…SJSU shoots well from the outside, averaging 38.8 percent from beyond the arc.
SERIES HISTORY
- The all–time series is tied at 2–2.
- CSUB won last season in Rabobank Arena, 61–55.
- CSUB will be looking for its first win in San Jose since taking a 42–41 decision during the 1981–82 season.
- This will be just the fourth time the teams have met as NCAA Division I opponents.
LAST 10 MEETINGS
2009 at 'RUNNERS 61, SJSU 55
2008 at SJSU 71, 'RUNNERS 56
2008 SJSU 78, at 'RUNNERS 63
1982 'RUNNERS 42, at SJSU 41
WHEN LAST WE MET
The Roadrunners jumped out to a big early lead then held the Spartans at arm's length in the second half en route to a 61–55 win in the Icardo Center on Jan. 12, 2009.
Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) made a big impact, helping to lead a balanced attack with 12 points and a game–high nine rebounds. Thanks in large parts to his efforts, CSUB managed a 40–33 rebounding edge against a bigger Spartan lineup.
DeShawn Wright led four Spartans in double figures with 17 points. Robert Owens came off the bench to add 12.
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DOUBLE–DOUBLE TRIO
Senior forwards Santwon Latunde and Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) combined for nine double–doubles last season and each has one so far in 2009–10. Joining their fraternity is freshman Stephon Carter (Garces HS), who corralled his first collegiate double–double with 15 points and a career–high 11 rebounds at Cal State Northridge.
LATUNDE ON THE REBOUND
Santwon Latunde continues to be a force on the glass for the 'Runners. He grabbed 10 boards at Cal State Northridge Nov. 30—his second double–figure night of the season. 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.
TOP 10 LIST
Trent Blakley will be knocking on the door of an exclusive club Wednesday at San Jose State. He needs just three points to reach the CSUB top 10 list in career scoring. He enters Wednesday's game with 918 points in three–plus seasons. Next up are Reggie Phillips (921) and Troy Price (923). If he maintains his current scoring pace, he will finish as CSUB's No. 2 all–time leading scorer with more than 1,300 career points.
WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW
Freshman guard Stephon Carter certainly made a big splash in his collegiate debut. 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.
WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES?
The first three games this season continue to prove that forty 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 71 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 (5–50) trailing with five minutes remaining.
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.
A THEIF IN THE AFTERNOON
The Oregon State police no doubt have an APB out for Stephon Carter after he pocketed six steals Sunday against the Beavers. Those six steals are a CSUB individual record at the NCAA Division I level and are the most by a Roadrunner player since Dwuan Rice had six takeaways versus Chico State on Feb. 8, 2007.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Close games weren't friendly to the 'Runners last season—and this season started the same way. After earning a two–point, 67–65, win over Big West Conference champ Cal State Northridge in their 2008–09 home opener, the 'Runners have dropped seven of their eight games decided by four or fewer points.
EMANUEL'S STARTING STREAK ENDS
Sophomore guard came Bryan Emanuel (Bellflower/Mayfair HS) came off the bench for the first time in his collegiate career Sunday at Oregon State. He was the first Roadrunner ever to start the first 34 games of his collegiate career.
CARTER'S STREAK CONTINUES
While Bryan Emanuel's starting streak ended Sunday, freshman guard Stephon Carter's modest streak of six consecutive starts did continue at Oregon State.
BAY AREA BLUES
Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but The Roadrunners certainly have not. They enjoyed considerable success against Bay area teams at the NCAA Division II level, but they have just one win against the Bay area playing NCAA Division I ball. In fact, CSUB hasn't beaten a Division I team in the Bay area since its 42–41 decision at San Jose State during the 1981–82 season.
LOOKING TO HEAT UP IN THE WINTER
Although the CSUB roster features several quality shooters, the Roadrunners have been historically cold over the last two games. CSUB shot less than 30 percent in its last two games at UC Riverside (.237) and at Oregon State (.265). It's the first time CSUB has shot below 30 percent in consecutive games.
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 746–353 (.679).
'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 34–92 in 126 games against 47 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.
