BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's basketball team gave itself several early Christmas presents Wednesday night, racing to an early lead en route to an 89–80 win over visiting UC Riverside in Rabobank Arena.
With the season less than half over, CSUB (8–5 overall) equalled its NCAA Division I record for wins in a season (8), while establishing high water marks for home wins (6) and home winning streak (5) in its four seasons of Division I play.
The Roadrunners achieved that success thanks to an impressive shooting display in which it tied its Division I era record for three-pointers made in a game, connecting on 14–of–21 from long range. Oddly, they matched the mark set in a 71–53 win at UC Riverside on Dec. 22, 2007.
The backcourt tandem of Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy) and Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) did the bulk of the damage. Johnson set a career high with 26 points, eclipsing his previous best of 23 set against Idaho State on Dec. 7. Bragg matched his career high 26–point effort set last season at Cal State Northridge.
Johnson matched his career–best performance with seven three–pointers, also set in the win over Idaho State. For the record, Johnson knocked down 4–of–7 from beyond the arc in the 2007 win at Riverside.
Keeping in the spirit of the season, Johnson and Bragg also were in a giving mood Wednesday. Both players set season highs with seven and six assists respectively. Their passing led a school Division I record 23 assists, surpassing the 22 assists the 'Runners collected in a 98–64 win over Loyola Marymount on Jan. 7, 2008.
CSUB never trailed Wednesday after Johnson hit his first three on CSUB's opening possession. The 'Runner lead expanded to as many 18 points (48–30) in the period before a late Highlander run cut it to 50–41 at the break.
Highlander hopes were short–lived, however, as four Johnson bombs keyed a 16–4 CSUB run to open the second half. The lead grew to as many as 21 this time (74–53) before UCR made its final push.
Eight points by Kareem Nitoto sparked a 15–4 Highlander streak that reduced CSUB's lead to 78–68 inside the final five minutes. With a chance to cut the deficit to single digits, UCR's Javon Borum was called for charging in front of the UCR bench, setting off a volcanic reaction by Highlander Head Coach Jim Wooldridge that earned him two technicals and an ejection. Bragg hit 3–of–4 of the technical free throws with 4:38 remaining and a Johnson trey on the ensuing possession put the final nail in the UCR coffin.
In addition to Johnson and Bragg, Stephon Carter (Garces HS) reached double figures with 17 points for CSUB. Junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa JC) led the team in rebounding for the 13th consecutive game with seven rebounds.
Elliott Berry hit 1–of–15 from the field coming off the bench to lead UCR (4–7) with 23 points. Nitoto added 22 points while Borum finished with 17 and a team–high five assists.
CSUB will take 10 days off before hosting Colorado on Sunday, Jan. 2. Tip–off in Rabobank Arena will be 5 p.m.
CSU BAKERSFIELD 89, UC RIVERSIDE 80
UC RIVERSIDE (4-7)
Berry, Elliott 10-15 1-2 23; Nitoto, Kareem 6-9 9-10 22; Borum, Javon 8-15 0-0 17; Martin, Phil 4-11 1-2 9; Cowlah, Daymond 1-2 0-0 2; Shearry, BJ 0-4
2-2 2; Taylor, Delonte 1-2 0-0 2; Brown, Tyquan 0-0 2-2 2; Bradshaw, Kevin 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 30-63 16-20 80.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (8-5)
Johnson, Alex 9-11 1-3 26; Bragg, Donavan 9-16 5-7 26; Carter, Stephon 6-14 3-5 17; Johnson, Donald 3-6 0-0 8; Savage, Rashad 1-1 2-2 4; Brown, Cory 2-3 0-0 4; Jones, Kregg 1-2 0-0 2; Baker, Reynaul 0-1 2-2 2; Kale, Cody 0-0 0-0 0; Matip, Ivan 0-0 0-0 0; Robinson, De'Aundray 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-55 13-19
89.
UC Riverside.................. 41 39 - 80
CSU Bakersfield............... 50 39 - 89
3-point goals--UCR 4-15 (Berry 2-2; Borum 1-5; Nitoto 1-4; Cowlah 0-1; Martin 0-3), CSUB 14-21 (A. Johnson 7-9; Bragg 3-4; D. Johnson 2-4; Carter 2-3; Robinson 0-1). Fouled out--UCR-Borum , CSUB-Brown. Rebounds--UCR 33 (Berry 6), CSUB 27 (Savage 7). Assists--UCR 13 (Borum 5), CSUB 23 (Bragg 7). Total fouls--UCR 17, CSUB 19. Technical fouls--UCR-Coach Jim Wooldridge 2 (ejected). None. A-1442
