BAKERSFIELD, Calif., -- Stephon Carter (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) scored a season-high 25 points on 8 of 15 shooting while Issiah Grayson (Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Southern Idaho CC) hit the game-winning jumper with 2.8 seconds remaining as the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners won their Division I-best 10th game 67-65 over Cal State Fullerton Saturday night.
The win marked the first-ever season sweep for CSUB (10-9) over the Titans (10-6) with the 'Runners winning the first meeting this season 73-67 on Nov. 26th. Saturday night it was the play of Carter that helped pace the 'Runners offense and a key offensive rebound by Rashad Savage (Sr., Philadelphia, Penn., Odessa CC) with 20 seconds remaining that set up the Roadrunners game winner.
“I thought our kids did a great job hanging in there,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “I thought both teams had their moments of runs and playing well. It's good to win a close game like that especially having the ball at the end and I thought Issiah, after not playing well, made a great shot.”
In a game that saw nine ties and six lead changes it was only fitting that Fullerton would tie the game with 1:00 remaining on a Perry Webster three-pointer from the corner setting up a final possession, winner-take-all scenario.
On that possession, Carter missed a jumper for the Roadrunners but Savage grabbed his third offensive rebound of the night to set up the game winner, where following a timeout, Grayson hit a 15-footer from just off the left side of the key. Fullerton would inbound and CSUB would allow Webster an uncontested half court shot, which fell short at the buzzer.
“I told the coaches in the huddle that I wanted the last shot,” Grayson said. “No matter what I was going to shoot the ball, I know that's selfish but I wanted to put my team on my back and carry them. I wasn't shooting well but the coaches said keep shooting because that's what shooters do.”
For the third straight game the 'Runners shot below 30% from three-point range but made up for that with 36 points in the paint along with 45% shooting from the field (23-51). They also forced 19 Fullerton turnovers, which they turned into 24 points.
The win is the third straight for the 'Runners who have won 10 games for the first time since making the Division I transition in the 2007 season. The 'Runners also improved to 5-0 against teams out of the Big West Conference, their best record against any of the 10 different conferences they face this season..
“We've got a few more Big West schools to go, but we know we can compete,” Barnes said.
CSUB will look to match their season-long four-game winning streak Tuesday night when they travel to Pacific to take on the Tigers for the second time this season. CSUB won the first meeting on Dec. 22 in Bakersfield 82-52.Tip off is schedule for 7:30 p.m.
