BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's basketball team earned its ninth victory of the season, the most in its four seasons of NCAA Division I play, by holding on at the buzzer to defeat Cal State Fullerton 77–75 Tuesday night at Rabobank Arena.

CSUB improves to 9–11 with the victory, The nine wins surpass its eight wins in 2008 and in 2009 for the most since making the jump to full Division one play for the 2007–08 season.

Like the last two Roadrunner home games, this one was in doubt until the final horn sounded. Idaho defeated CSUB 78–77 on a three–pointer at the overtime buzzer on Jan. 15 and UC Irvine held on for a 76–73 win Jan. 19 when CSUB's three at the buzzer rimmed out. Tuesday night, Fullerton's Orane Chin missed a contested jumper in the lane with less than a second remaining as the 'Runners escaped.

CSUB threatened to run away with the game early, opening with an 18–5 run in the first five–plus minutes. A 13–0 Fullerton response gave the Titans what proved to be their only lead of the game at 22–20 inside the eight–minute mark. But back–to–back jumpers from Reynaul Baker Los Angeles/Crenshaw HS) capped a 9–0 burst to put CSUB back on top.

The 'Runner lead was 11 by halftime, 42–31, and Fullerton spent most of the second half chipping away at the deficit until it finally tied the game at 69 and again at 71 on a pair of Jer'Vaughn Johnson jumpers, the last with 2:03 remaining. But CSUB went 6–for–6 from the free throw line over the final 1:38, and that proved just enough to earn the win.

Trailing 77–75, Fullerton had one final chance to tie or win. Chin grabbed an inbounds pass near the far elbow with 4.3 seconds remaining. He dribbled to the top of the key then drove on CSUB junior forward Donald Johnson (Lancaster/Easter Arizona). Johnson's defense was stellar, however, and he forced Chin to throw up a wild shot from the paint that didn't draw iron.

CSUB got big performances from several players, including a 20–point night from junior guard Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughn Road Academy). Donald Johnson came off the bench to add season highs of 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa JC), the nation's 13th–leading rebounder, reached double figures for the 12th time this season, grabbing a game–high 10 Tuesday night.

The most unusual line of the night belonged to CSUB leading scorer Stephon Carter (Garces HS). CSUB's leading scorer, went 0–for–15 from the field, but was a big contributor in several other ways. He matched his career high with seven assists, made two free throws with 12 seconds left for what proved to be the winning points, and grabbed the rebound of Chin's miss to seal the win.

Devon Peltier led Fullerton (8–13) with 23 points. Jer'Vaughn Johnson added 19 points and a team–high nine rebounds for the Titans.

CSUB returns to action Saturday, hosting Big West Conference foe Cal Poly in Rabobank Arena at 7 p.m.

CAL STATE FULLERTON (8-13)
Peltier, Devon 9-17 1-1 23; Johnson, Jer'Vaughn 6-7 7-8 19; Brown, Orlando 2-5 6-7 10; Hardy, Andre 2-6 4-8 8; Umipig, Isiah 3-7 2-2 8; Webster, Perry
1-5 0-0 3; Martin, Sedric 1-1 0-1 2; Chin, Orane 1-8 0-0 2. Totals 25-56 20-27 75.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (9-11)
Johnson, Alex 4-10 8-9 20; Johnson, Donald 6-10 2-2 16; Bragg, Donavan 3-9 7-8 15; Baker, Reynaul 3-3 2-2 8; Carter, Stephon 0-15 7-8 7; Savage, Rashad
3-4 1-2 7; Robinson, De'Aundray 1-1 0-0 2; Albright, James 1-6 0-1 2; Brown, Cory 0-0 0-0 0; Jones, Kregg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-58 27-32 77.

Cal State Fullerton...........   31   44  -   75
CSU Bakersfield...............   42   35  -   77

3-point goals--Cal State Fullerton 5-14 (Peltier 4-7; Webster 1-4; Umipig 0-2; Chin 0-1), CSU Bakersfield 8-27 (A. Johnson 4-10; Bragg 2-5; D. Johnson 2-4; Albright 0-4; Carter 0-4). Fouled out--Savage. Rebounds--Cal State Fullerton 38 (Johnson 9), CSU Bakersfield 39 (Savage 10). Assists--Cal State Fullerton 13 (Webster 6), CSU Bakersfield 18 (Bragg, Carter 7). Total fouls--Cal State Fullerton 22, CSU Bakersfield 20. Technical fouls--None. A-1326