BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — This time, the shot rimmed out.

Sophomore swingman Stephon Carter (Garces HS) has already won one game with a buzzer–beating three–pointer and sent last Saturday's game versus Idaho to overtime with another. Wednesday night, however, Carter's shot circled the cylinder and came back out, allowing UC Irvine to hang on for a 76–73 victory in Rabobank Arena.

The final shot was a microcosm of the night for CSUB. Missed shots rimming out and loose balls pinballing to Anteater players proved a prevailing theme that carried all the way to Carter's final attempt.

Senior guard Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) scored a game and career–high 27 points for CSUB. Carter added 17 points while junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa College) grabbed a game–high 16 rebounds, one off his season high.

Eric Wise posted his second consecutive double–double against CSUB, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Darren Moore led the Anteaters with 16 points.

CSUB (8–10 overall) carried the play for most of the first half. The Roadrunners never trailed until Patrick Rembert's layup gave UCI (9–10) a 33–32 lead at the break. The Anteaters extended their lead to as many as eight in the second half, but CSUB kept battling back to keep it close.

The 'Runners tied the game at 65–65 on a Carter steal and dunk with 5:14 to play. They took the lead, 69–68, two minutes later on a Bragg jumper.

A pair of Bragg free throws gave CSUB its final lead at 71–70 with 2:39 remaining. But Irvine broke CSUB's trap on the ensuing possession and Mike Wilder drained an open three from the top of the key to put UCI ahead to stay.

The 'Runners had a good look at a three on their next possession, but Carter's attempt from the corner, again, rimmed out. The CSUB defense nearly forced a steal to get another shot at the lead, but loose ball caromed its way to Wilder. Rembert then badly missed a three, but Wilder knifed through the lane to grab the rebound and his putback gave UCI a 75–71 lead with 1:05 remaining.

Carter's final field goal of the night cut the lead back to two points inside 30 seconds and Rembert made just 1–of–2 free throws to keep 'Runner hopes alive. Offensive rebounds by Savage and De'Aundray Robinson (Baton Rouge, La./National College Prep) gave CSUB three cracks at the tie, but to no avail.

CSUB returns to action Saturday when it travel to the University of San Diego for a 4:30 p.m. tip. The 'Runners return home to host Cal State Fullerton Tuesday in Rabobank Arena.

UC IRVINE (9-10)
Moore, Darren 5-11 4-4 16; Wise, Eric 3-11 9-11 15; Rembert, Patrick 4-9 1-2 10; Wilder, Mike 3-9 0-0 8; Flowers, Derick 3-4 1-2 7; Simek, Peter 2-2 2-3 6; Starring, Daman 2-9 0-0 5; Kim, Emil 2-2 1-1 5; McNealy, Chris 1-4 0-0 2; Losonsky, Pavol 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-63 18-23 76.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (8-10)
Bragg, Donavan 7-16 11-12 27; Carter, Stephon 6-22 5-9 17; Johnson, Alex 2-9 4-4 10; Savage, Rashad 3-4 0-0 6; Baker, Reynaul 3-4 0-0 6; Jones, Kregg 2-2 1-2 5; Robinson, De'Aundray 1-2 0-0 2; Brown, Cory 0-0 0-0 0; Hayes, Robert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 21-27 73.

UC Irvine.....................   33   43  -   76
CSU Bakersfield...............   32   41  -   73

3-point goals--UC Irvine 6-16 (Wilder 2-3; Moore 2-5; Starring 1-4; Rembert 1-2; McNealy 0-1; Wise 0-1), CSU Bakersfield 4-14 (Bragg 2-5; Johnson 2-6; Carter 0-3). Fouled out--UC Irvine-None, CSU Bakersfield-None. Rebounds--UC Irvine 42 (Wise 13), CSU Bakersfield 38 (Savage 16). Assists--UC Irvine 12 (Rembert 5), CSU Bakersfield 7 (Johnson, Bragg 2). Total fouls--UC Irvine 20, CSU Bakersfield 17. Technical fouls--None. A-1442