NORTHRIDGE, Calif.- CSU Bakersfield (4-1) withstood a
furious Cal State Northridge second half rally (1-5) to defeat the Matadors
74-67 Wednesday night at the Matadome. The victory was the fourth straight for
CSUB, marking the first time the Roadrunners have won four in a row since making
the transition to Division I.
The Roadrunners shot over 60 percent in the first half
and took a 40-29 lead into the halftime break. With CSUB leading 46-29 early in
the second half, the Matadors mounted a 23-6 to take the lead, 52-51 with just
over eight minutes to play. Theteams either tied the score or exchanged the
lead eight times in the final 8+ minutes of the game.
With just over three minutes to go and the scored tied at
62, Northridge was whistled for a flagrant foul. Mo Hughley (Jr., Queens
Village, N.Y.) went to the free throw line and made both attempts. CSUB
maintained possesion and Hughley was fouled again. The 6-7 forward again made
both shot, giving the Roadrunners a four-point lead. Zach Lamb (Jr., Norcross,
Ga., Miami Dade CC) made a 15-foot jumper with 1:36 to go to make it 68-62 in
favor of the Roadrunners.
Josh Greene's bucket cut the CSUB lead to four with 1:12
remaining. A pair of Lamb free throws
again made it a two-possession game 19 seconds later. The Matadors missed two
three-point attempts in the final 30 seconds as Issiah Grayson (Jr., Atlanta,
Ga., College of Southern Idaho) made two free throw for a 72-64 CSUB lead.
Greene was fouled beyond the three-point arc and he made all three attempts
with 14 seconds remaining. Tyrone White (Jr., Portland, Ore., North Idaho
College) was fouled on the ensuing 'Runner possession and he made both of his
free throw shots for the final 74-67.
White and Grayson led the Roadrunners as the duo each
scored 17 points. Grayson added eight assists. Stephon Carter (Jr., Bakersfield,
Calif., Garces HS) posted 10 points and eight rebounds. Stephen Maxwell had a
double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds to pace Cal State Northridge.
The Roadrunners held the Matadors to 33.8% shooting
(22-of-35) while CSU Bakersfield shot 62.5% from the field (25-of-40). CSUB committed
23 turnovers compared to 13 for the Matadors. Cal State Northridge outrebounded
CSUB 35-30, 24-6 on the offensive glass. The Roadrunners made 15-of-19 free
throw attempts, compared to 19-of-25 for Cal State Northridge.
“We were concerned about the offensive glass and it
caught up to us,” said CSUB associate head coach Bryan Goodman. “I was proud of
our guys, we stayed together and got the rebounds we needed late. We need cut
down on our turnovers and keep the other team off the glass.”
The Roadrunners conclude a 3-0 stretch against the Big West
Conference and now begin four consecutive games against the Big Sky Conference
when CSUB travels to Montana State Saturday. Tipoff is set for a 6 p.m (PST).
~www.GoRunners.com~
