BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Senior forward Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) produced one of the most prolific games in CSUB men's basketball history, but it wasn't enough to cool off red-hot Loyola Marymount as the Lions pulled away late for an 81-73 victory Sunday afternoon in Rabobank Arena.
LMU improved to 9-7 overall by winning its sixth-consecutive game. CSUB dropped to 2-11.
Latunde tied the CSUB record single-game record with 21 rebounds and added 20 points for the Roadrunners' first 20-20 game since Kebu Stewart turned the trick at Cal State San Bernardino on Feb. 22, 1997.
Beyond Latunde's individual heroics, the game was a brawl for the first 30 minutes, showcasing a physical, well-played fIrst half that saw the teams head to the locker room tied at 40-40.
“I told the team at halftime that the game was a street fight and we were right in the middle of it,” said CSUB Head Coach Keith Brown. “I liked the energy and intensity we displayed, and we had our opportunities, but we needed a few more looks to fall in the second half.”
CSUB shot just 9-of-34 in the second half (27 percent) while LMU was an efficient 11-of-22 from the field and 17-of-21 from the line after the break.
The teams played through 10 ties and seven lead changes in the first half before a Bryan Emanual (Bellflower/Mayfair HS) free throw tied things up entering intermission. When LMU opened the second half on a quick 10-3 spurt, the Lions grabbed a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
CSUB managed to stay within two or three possessions of the lead for most of the balance of the game, but couldn't get over the hump.
In addition to Latunde's big numbers, the Roadrunners got 15 points from freshman guard Stephon Carter and 12 from senior forward Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS). But CSUB's two leading scorers managed just 4-of-28 combined shooting from the field.
Defensively, CSUB held LMU guard Jarred DuBois under 20 points for the first time in three meetings, as the sophomore finished with 13. But freshman Ashley Hamilton stepped up to lead the Lions with a career-high 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Junior guard Vernon Teel followed his 10-assist night versus Seattle on Dec. 30 with nine assists and 17 points.
CSUB will face a stiff test Wednesday when it travels to Ohio to meet nationally-ranked Cincinnati Wednesday, Jan. 6. Tip-off will be at 4:30 p.m. PST and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio.
