BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—With the UNLV Runnin' Rebels (#17 ESPN/AP) in town and a big crowd on hand, the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners slugged it out in the first half trailing by 11 at the break, but a 16-2 run by the Rebels fueled a second half surge and a 89-57 UNLV win at Rabobank Arena Thursday night.

“We didn't play with the fight and the fire that we needed and it's unacceptable,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “I thank the fans that came out tonight but I also want to tell them to be patient, we'll get it fixed, it's not the type of effort exemplified in this program or teams that I coach.”

The Roadrunners (7-9) managed to keep it close for much of the first half but once UNLV went on their run, the Rebels (16-2) were able to finish the game outscoring CSUB 51-30 in the second half.

“I told our guys they were a team of runs, but I didn't see the willingness to fight back tonight,” Barnes said. “We're going to find the guys who want to fight for this program, it doesn't matter who we play, the effort has to be better.”

CSUB fell victim to a balanced Rebel offense that shot 51% in the second half while outscoring the Roadrunners 24-8 in the paint for a 42-26 game advantage in the low post. Mike Moser and Justin Hawkins led four Rebels in double figures with 17 points each. Oscar Bellfield added 13 while Anthony Marshall scored 12 for UNLV.

The 'Runners never got on track offensively in the second half and managed just 20-57 from the field for 37% while UNLV effectively took away their three-point shooting limiting CSUB to a season-low 4 of 12 from beyond the arc.

CSUB was led by Zachary Lamb (Jr., Norcross, Ga., Miami-Dade CC) who scored a career-high 16 points for the second time this season on 7 of 11 shooting and 2 of 2 from three-point range. Stephon Carter (Jr., Bakersfield Calif., Garces HS), added 13 points for his fourth straight game in double figures while shooting 6 of 9 from the floor.

The 'Runners return home Saturday night as they host Texas Pan-American at 7 pm at the Icardo Center.