BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Ice cold shooting from all three areas proved costly as the CSUB men's basketball team fell to Southern Utah in its home opener, 66-58, Wednesday night at Rabobank Arena.

CSUB (1-2 overall) got 24 points from sophomore Stephon Carter (Garces HS) and a 10–point, 15–rebound double–double from junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa JC), but it wasn't enough to overcome a balanced effort from SUU (1-1), who put three players in double figures, led by Jordan Weirick's 17–point, eight–rebound effort.

The Roadrunners shot just 36 percent from the field, 29 percent from beyond the arc and 56 percent from the line. The 14-0f-25 free throw shooting proved critical as all 11 misses came with the outcome still in doubt.

The game was close throughout. CSUB held brief leads, but much of the contest was spent with the score tied or CSUB trailing by one or two possessions. SUU held a narrow 30–27 lead at intermission and things were knotted at 49–49 inside the final five minutes when the Thunderbirds made the key run.

A Ramell Taylor jumper kick started a 9–0 spurt that put SUU ahead 58–49 with 2:12 to play. The lead eventually grew to 13 at 66–53 before CSUB scored the final five points to account for the final score.

The 'Runners return to the road Saturday to face Pepperdine University in Malibu.

SOUTHERN UTAH (1-1)
Weirick, Jordan 7-13 2-2 17; Taylor, Ramell 7-15 2-3 16; Hodgson, Matt 3-5 4-4 10; Jones, Ray 2-11 5-6 9; Koehler, Tyson 2-5 2-3 6; Davis, Kyle 1-6 2-3 4; Heuir, Damon 1-3 0-0 2; Nielson, Jake 1-2 0-0 2; Massey, Matt 0-2 0-0 0; Brimley, Ryan 0-1 0-0 0; Cameron, Brian 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 17-21 66.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (1-2)
Carter, Stephon 8-15 6-9 24; Savage, Rashad 3-8 4-9 10; Johnson, Alex 3-11 0-0 9; Bragg, Donavan 2-9 1-2 6; Robinson, De'Aundray 1-3 2-3 4; Albright, James 1-2 0-0 2; Brown, Cory 1-3 0-0 2; Hayes, Robert 0-0 1-2 1; Baker, Reynaul 0-0 0-0 0; Johnson, Donald 0-2 0-0 0; Kale, Cody 0-0 0-0 0; Jones, Kregg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 14-25 58.

Southern Utah.................   30   36  -   66
CSU Bakersfield...............   27   31  -   58

3-point goals--Southern Utah 1-5 (Weirick 1-2; Heuir 0-1; Massey 0-1; Brimley 0-1), CSU Bakersfield 6-21 (A. Johnson 3-10; Carter 2-4; Bragg 1-5; Albright 0-1; Johnson 0-1). Fouled out--Southern Utah-Weirick, CSU Bakersfield-Albright. Rebounds--Southern Utah 47 (Weirick 8), CSU Bakersfield 35 (Savage 15). Assists--Southern Utah 9 (Jones 3), CSU Bakersfield 6 (Carter 2; Hayes 2). Total fouls--Southern Utah 20, CSU Bakersfield 20. A-1254