BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Playing in front of the second-highest home attendance in school history, the CSUB men's basketball team saw Central Valley rival Fresno State use a late surge to pull away for a 73–55 win before 5,634 Wednesday night in Rabobank Arena.

The largest home crowd in CSUB's NCAA Division I history — the school record of 6,248 came versus San Francisco State during the 2006 season — saw CSUB lead by as much as 10 in the first half and take a 37–34 lead into the locker room.

CSUB (9–15 overall) got a 12–point, 16–rebound double–double from junior forward Rashad Savage (Philadelphia/Odessa CC) and 15 points from junior guard Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy).

It wasn't enough, however, to overcome a 23–point effort from junior swingman Tim Steed, who came off the bench to lead Fresno State (12–14) with 23 points, 13 over his season average.

The game see-sawed through the early part of the second half, with CSUB taking its final lead on a pair of Savage free throws with 13:55 to play. But a Steed three–pointer on Fresno's ensuing possession gave the Bulldogs the lead for good. The Fresno lead was only 56–53 with just over eight minutes remaining when a Garrett Johnson three ignited a game–ending 17–2 run.

CSUB hits the friendly skies for a trip to Farmville, Va. to meet fellow Division I Independent Longwood University Saturday. The 'Runners return to Rabobank Arena for their home season finale against Seattle University Feb. 26.

FRESNO STATE (12-14)
Steed, Tim 10-16 1-1 23; Smith, Greg 6-9 1-1 13; Wills, Jonathan 4-5 0-0 8; Shepp, Steven 3-6 0-0 7; Johnson, Tyler 1-2 5-6 7; Johnson, Garrett 2-8 0-0 6; Funk, Bracken 2-5 0-1 4; Olekaibe, Kevin 1-5 0-0 3; Golubovic, Nedeljko 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 30-60 7-9 73.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (9-15)
Johnson, Alex 5-19 0-0 15; Savage, Rashad 4-7 4-4 12; Carter, Stephon 2-10 6-6 10; Baker, Reynaul 4-10 0-0 8; Johnson, Donald 1-4 2-2 4; Bragg, Donavan 0-7 4-6 4; Robinson, De'Aundray 1-2 0-0 2; Brown, Cory 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-61 16-18 55.

Fresno State..................   34   39  -   73
CSU Bakersfield...............   37   18  -   55

3-point goals--FS 6-16 (G. Johnson 2-5; Steed 2-2; Shepp 1-3; Olekaibe 1-4; Funk 0-1; Golubovic 0-1), CSUB 5-26 (A. Johnson 5-17; Carter 0-2; Baker 0-1; D. Johnson 0-1; Bragg 0-5). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--FS 35 (Smith 8), CSUB 42 (Savage 16). Assists--FS 16 (Shepp 5), CSUB 11 (Carter 5). Total fouls--FS 14, CSUB 11. Technical fouls--None, CSUB-None. A-5634