BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The most exciting CSU Bakersfield men's basketball game of the season nearly had a SportsCenter worthy finish, but Stephon Carter's desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer from half court rimmed out and Longwood University held on for an 82-81 win in a battle of NCAA Division I Independent schools at Rabobank Arena.
The win snapped a 12-game road losing streak for Longwood (4-13 overall). CSUB drops to 2-13 with the loss.
Senior forward Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) posted his third double-double of the season, grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with a career-high 29 points. Fellow senior Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) added 21 points for CSUB.
Their efforts were not enough to overcome four Longwood players in double figures. Dana Smith led the way for the Lancers with a 24 points and 10 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season.
CSUB started in a huge defensive hole when junior guard Bryan Emanuel (Lakewood/Mayfair HS) was a game-time scratch due to illness. The loss of Emanuel, the team's best defender, was a blow that played a big role in Longwood scoring a CSUB opponent season-high 52 points in the first half.
Longwood's first-half explosion cancelled out CSUB scoring a season-high 45 points of its own in the period. But the Roadrunner defense clamped down after halftime, and a Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) jumper helped CSUB complete a comeback from 11 points down and take a 66-64 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
After a Smith jumper gave the Lancers the final lead change at 75-74, Blakley missed two free throws that would have put CSUB back on top. The Roadrunners got a stop on the next Longwood possession, and a great pass from Carter found freshman Marcus Hall (Bakersfield Christian HS) open on the wing. But his three-point attempt went in-and-out.
Martiz Washington then delivered the killer blow for Longwood, nailing a three from a step beyond the NBA line to give the Lancers a four-point lead, 78-74.
A pair of Latunde free throws cut the deficit to two points as Carter stepped up to force turnovers on consecutive Longwood possessions. But Blakley was called for travelling following the first steal and Carter missed the front end of a one-and-one following the second.
A Carter three sandwiched between four Longwood free throws kept CSUB's heart beating.
Two Bragg free throws brought the Roadrunners back to within 82-81 before Carter fouled Kevin Swecker with 2.4 seconds remaining. Swecker missed the front end of a one-and-one and Carter grabbed the rebound, weaved between a pair of defenders, and launched a shot from midcourt as the horn sounded.
The shot caromed off the backboard, hit hard off the inside of the front rim before bouncing away.
The Roadrunners will hit the road again to play at Southern Mississippi Tuesday night before returning home to host Montana State Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
