ROADRUNNERS (6–5) vs. CSU NORTHRIDGE (3–6)
DECEMBER 18, 2010  •  7:00 p.m.
RABOBANK ARENA  •  BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.
ESPN RADIO 1230 AM  •  BRIGHT HOUSE CH. 21

MATADOR MUSINGS
The Matadors snapped a 3–game skid with a 75–52 win over Cal Lutheran on Dec. 7…they will have enjoyed a 10–day break when they meet CSUB…own an impressive 88–66 win against Big East member DePaul (Nov. 26)…other win was  109–66 triumph over Vanguard on Nov. 20…Sr. F Lenny Daniel leads CSUN in both scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg)…Sr. F/G Rashaun McLemore also scores in double figures at 13.8 ppg…as a team, the Matadors out–rebound their opposition by nearly 5 boards per game (37.0 vs. 32.2).

SERIES HISTORY

• The all–time series is tied 21–21.
• CSUN is 3–2 against CSUB in NCAA Div. I meetings.
• CSUB has taken both Div. I meetings with CSUN in Rabobank Arena.
• The teams have split each of the last 2 seasons, with each successfully defending their home courts.
• CSUB won last season's game in Bakersfield, 59–57.
• CSUN's last win in Bakersfield was a 61–58 win in the Icardo Center in the 1990.
• 16 of the 42 meetings have been decided by 4 points or less with 1 OT game.

LAST 10 MEETINGS
2010    at 'RUNNERS 59, CSUN 57
2010    at CSUN 81, 'RUNNERS 74
2009    at CSUN 79, 'RUNNERS 62
2009    at 'RUNNERS 67, CSUN 65
2007    at CSUN 92, 'RUNNERS 76
1990     at CSUN 96, 'RUNNERS 88
1990     CSUN 61, at 'RUNNERS 58
1989     'RUNNERS 71, at CSUN 59
1989     at 'RUNNERS 86, CSUN 59
*1988    at 'RUNNERS 57, CSUN 56

*CCAA Tournament Game

WHEN LAST WE MET: Trent Blakley made the shot of the season for CSUB, nailing a 19–foot running jumper as time expired to lift CSUB to a 59–57 win over then defending Big West Conference champion Cal State Northridge in Rabobank Arena on Feb. 10, 2010.

Blakley led CSUB with 16 points, returning to double figures after his 25-game streak of scoring in double figures ended the previous game at UC Irvine. Kenny Daniels led three Matadors in double figures with a game–high 20 points.

BAKERSFIELD .500: Winners of three of their last four games, the Roadrunners enter Saturday's game against Cal State Northridge with a 6–5 record. It is the team's best record after 11 games since making the jump to NCAA Division I play. This is the latest in a season the Roadrunners have been above .500 since finishing the 2007 season 15–14.

THIRTYSOMETHING: Already the only player to score 30 points in a game in CSUB's NCAA Division I era, sophomore guard Stephon Carter (Garces HS) became the first CSUB player in more than a decade to reach 30 points twice in the same season when he hung 30 on Portland State Wednesday night. Carter also scored 32 points in an 82–77 win over San Jose State on Nov. 24.

Prior to Carter's efforts this season, no Roadrunner had reached the 30–point plateau since Terri Miller scored 34 points against Central Washington on Dec. 28, 2002.

SAVAGE ON THE REBOUND: Just as Carter is making his mark on the CSUB scoring charts, junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa JC) is doing the same thing on the Roadrunner rebounding charts. Savage eclipsed his season high (15 rebounds Nov. 17 vs. Southern Utah) with 17 boards in Wednesday's win over Portland State. While 17 is a healthy number, it was four rebounds shy of Santwon Latunde's 21–rebound game against Loyola Marymount last season. Latunde's mark tied the school record set three times previously and is CSUB's Division I era record.

For the record, Savage entered this week's action ranked No. 28 nationally with a 10.0 rebounds per game average (now 10.6 rpg). He has led CSUB in rebounding in all 11 games this season.

GIVE THESE LADS A HAND: The 'Runners showed great ball movement in their Dec. 4 win over USF, posting a team season–high 20 assists. The 20 dimes were CSUB's second most ever at the NCAA Division I level and the most since a 22–assist night in a 98–64 win over LMU on Jan. 7, 2008.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK: The 'Runners have done a secure job taking care of the basketball. CSUB is averaging just 10.0 turnovers per game over its last eight contests. Its 11.8 turnovers per game over the first 11 games of the season would translate to its lowest rate at the NCAA Division I level. CSUB ranked 42nd in the last week's NCAA Division I rankings.

BANK ROBBERS: While the 'Runners jealously guard the ball, they have no qualms about taking it away from their foes, especially in Rabobank Arena. CSUB collected a season–high 14 steals against Portland State at home Wednesday night, bringing its season average in Rabobank to 8.0 steals per game.

WHAT A STEAL: Stephon Carter added three steals to his larder against Portland State, running his streak of consecutive games with a steal to 21 dating back to last season. He owns a team–leading 26 for the season and 76 over his one season plus 11 games at the collegiate level. Those steals put him in 19th place on the CSUB career list. While 19th might not sound impressive, if he keeps up his current pace, he will end his sophomore season No. 6 all–time with 116 steals.

LEADER OF THE PACK: In its Dec. 7 win over Idaho State, CSUB built its second–biggest lead in a game (34 points) since joining the NCAA Division I ranks. The only time the 'Runners led by more was a 36–point spread in what would become a 98–64 win over Loyola Marymount on Jan. 7, 2008.

BROWN ON THE BLOCKS: Senior big man Cory Brown (Lakeside/El Capitan HS) blocked two more shots last week at Utah State to bring his career total to 62. He slipped past Andre Hardwick into seventh place. Next up are Troy Price and Kebu Stewart (67) in fifth.

For the record, Jamal Livingston is the all–time leader, needing just two seasons in blue and gold (1999–00) to collect 107 blocks.

BOMBS AWAY: The 'Runners entered the week as one of the nation's most dangerous perimeter teams, connecting on 39.5 percent (68–172) from beyond the arc through the first 10 games. That mark ranked No. 34 nationally in this week's NCAA Division I rankings. It would rank No. 4 all–time in CSUB history (45.1 in 1987) and No. 1 in CSUB's Division I era (35.0 in 2008).

SINGLE ENGINE BOMBER: Junior guard Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy) has been the most prolific bomber in the CSUB squadron this season, draining nearly half (34) of the team's 70 three–pointers. His 3.2 per game entering the week ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division I play this season while his 43.8 percentage put him at No. 40.

KEEPING IT ON THE DOWN LOW: Last week's 75–56 win over Idaho State was to be expected given CSUB's solid defensive effort. The 'Runners have won 19 of their last 30 when holding an opponent under 70. They've won their last 10 games when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points.

FIRE ON ICE: First, a little trivia for those who have yet to visit Rabobank Arena for a Roadrunner game: the basketball court actually sits on top of the ice surface during the season (the arena is also home to the Bakersfield Condors of the East Coast Hockey League). That's done little to cool off the hot 'Runner shooters over the past three home games. CSUB is connecting on 54.8 percent (92–of–168) from the floor over its past three home games. Wednesday night versus Portland State, CSUB sizzled to the tune of a 59.7 percent shooting clip (37–of–62), its second best game at the NCAA Division I level.

LIVING IN THE 80's: With a youthful, more athletic team this season, the 'Runners are averaging 74.3 points per game, their highest average so far as an NCAA Division I program. With that should come more 80–plus point efforts like Wednesday night's 92–77 win over Portland State. Those have been a rarity for Div. I CSUB. It was just the seventh time that CSUB scored 80 points in a home game at the Division I level. It was just the third time that Division I CSUB scored 80 points and won (the others: 82–77 over San Jose State on Nov. 24 and 98–64 over Loyola Marymount on Jan. 7, 2008).

AND DYING IN THE 80's: While 80–point offensive games have generally been a good sign for CSUB, 80–point defensive efforts have be harbingers of doom. After Nov. 30's 81–77 loss to Northern Arizona, CSUB is 0–32 at the NCAA Division I level when allowing 80 or more points. The 'Runners are on an 0–34 streak overall when allowing 80 or more points. Their last win in such a game was a 90–87 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Feb. 25, 2006.

A HALF NOTE: For the first time since last Feb. 3, the 'Runners put together two halves to make one victory in the Dec. 4 win over San Francisco. They led at halftime, 38–31. By then winning the second half, 39–38, the 'Runners won both halves of a game for the first time since defeating UC Irvine last February. It marks only the second time they have pulled that off in the last 55 games—despite having 18 victories over that run.

THE OTHER HALF NOTE: Oddly, the 'Runners won at Sacramento State on Nov. 14 despite not winning either half. That's because the game was tied at both the half and, of course, at the end of regulation.

WE MEET AGAIN: The Roadrunners entered 2010–11 with a 133–122 record all–time versus this season's opponents. Note that many of those games were played while both CSUB and their respective foes were competing at the NCAA Division II level.

39 YEARS OF CSUB BASKETBALL: The 2010–2011 season marks the 40th 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 758–375 (.669).

LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT: The CSUB Athletics program successfully completed its five–year transition to active NCAA Division I status in August. All Roadrunner teams are now fully postseason eligible at the Division I level.