BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — For the second consecutive game, the CSUB men's basketball team held the biggest leads of the night, but for the second consecutive game, the young Roadrunner squad couldn't quite hold the lead at the wire as Northern Arizona came back late to earn an 81–77 win in Rabobank Arena.
CSUB (3-4 overall) got several solid performances and meshed them together to lead for most of the game's first 35 minutes. Sophomore guard Stephon Carter (Garces HS) led a quartet of Roadrunners in double figures with 24 points. Junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa JC) just missed his third double-double, finishing with 14 points and a game high nine rebounds.
NAU (5-2) sophomore guard Gabe Rogers helped turn the tide in favor of the Lumberjacks with a sizzling second half, scoring 18 of his game-high 26 points in the period. His transition jumper with 1:39 remaining put NAU ahead to stay at 76-75. He then made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win.
The game was mostly close throughout, with 12 ties and 16 lead changes. CSUB built eight-point leads in both halves, but NAU battled back each time. The 'Runners used a 9–0 run to pull ahead 27-19 midway through the first half before the Lumberjacks crawled back to make it a one-point game, 36-35 at the break. A Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) three-pointer gave CSUB 57-49 lead eight minutes into the second half before NAU battled back to set up the tight finish.
CSUB took its final lead at 73-71 on a Bragg follow with 4:45 remaining. A short jumper by Carter made it 75-71 inside of four minutes.
The Lumberjacks responded by scoring the seven points, keyed by a pair of Shane Johnannsen layups. Carter hit a pair of free throws with 36 second left to make it a one-point game, but Johannsen blocked two layup attempts by Bragg on the ensuing 'Runner possession to end CSUB's final chance.
In addition to the efforts of the Carter/Savage/Bragg trio, CSUB got encouraging performances in the returns of a pair of promising freshmen from nagging injury issues. De'Aundray Robinson (Baton Rouge, La./National College Prep) grabbed eight rebounds in just 13 minutes after missing the last three games. Reynaul Baker (Los Angeles/Crenshaw HS) added a season-high four assists in his most extensive action of the season.
CSUB returns to action Saturday when it hosts West Coast Conference foe San Francisco. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Rabobank Arena.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (5-2)
Rogers, Gabe 8-15 6-10 26; Johannsen, Shane 7-9 3-3 17; Platt, Eric 5-8 0-0 13; Jones, Cameron 4-11 1-1 10; Jones, DeAngelo 1-3 3-5 5; Smith, Austin 2-4 0-0 4; Lepley, Josh 2-3 0-0 4; Saldivar, Stallon 1-3 0-0 2; Norman, Durrell 0-0 0-0 0; Olubuyi, Julian 0-1 0-0 0; Dunn, Michael 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-57 13-19 81.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (3-4)
Carter, Stephon 8-17 7-9 24; Savage, Rashad 6-8 2-4 14; Bragg, Donavan 4-14 3-3 12; Johnson, Alex 4-11 0-0 11; Brown, Cory 3-3 2-2 8; Baker, Reynaul 2-5 0-0 4; Albright, James 1-2 0-0 2; Robinson, De'Aundray 1-7 0-0 2; Johnson, Donald 0-2 0-0 0; Kale, Cody 0-1 0-0 0; Hayes, Robert 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-71 14-18 77.
Northern Arizona.............. 35 46 - 81
CSU Bakersfield............... 36 41 - 77
3-point goals--NAU 8-18 (Rogers 4-9; Platt 3-6; Jones 1-1; Saldivar 0-1; Jones 0-1), CSUB 5-17 (A. Johnson 3-7; Bragg 1-4; Carter, Stephon 1-3; Albright, James 0-1; Johnson, Donald 0-1; Kale, Cody 0-1). Fouled out--NAU-None, CSUB-None. Rebounds--NAU 38 (Johannsen 7), CSUB 36 (Savage 9). Assists--NAU 16 (Rogers 5), CSUB 16 (Carter, Bragg, Baker 4). Total fouls--NAU 20, CSUB 18. Technical fouls--NAU-None, CSUB-None. A-1187
