BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-The CSUB Roadrunners, always with a knack for the dramatic at home, held off a three-point happy Cal Poly squad in the final minute with defensive stops and a steal by Issiah Grayson (Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Southern Idaho CC) with four seconds remaining as CSUB earned the season sweep over Cal Poly 69-66 Saturday night at the Icardo Center.

The Roadrunners led by six points with just 51 seconds remaining, but following a quick three-pointer by Dylan Royer the Mustangs were within three with 41 seconds remaining. Then after Stephon Carter (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) missed two free throws, the Roadrunners would have to rely on their defense to close out the effort as Grayson recorded his fifth steal of the game on the ensuing possession. Despite making both free throws to put the 'Runners up 68-63, the Mustangs weren't done as Royer hit another deep three pointer just seconds later to pull back within two points.

Carter would eventually have his hands on the ball again and would be sent back to the free throw line for the second time in the last minute, where he missed the first but made the second to give CSUB the three-point lead before Amaurys Fermin's attempt from half court at the buzzer would fall short giving CSUB their 12^th win of the season.

"I thought our kids really made a commitment to the defensive end, they really wanted this thing it was a huge game for us and we've been talking about it all week that we've got to stop this bleeding because we have three games on the road coming up," said head coach Rod Barnes. "There late, we like to make it interesting leaving a couple guys open and they hit back to back three's, but our guys were really focused on the game plan I thought they did a really good job."

While Cal Poly was 11 of 20 from the outside, they were outplayed by the Roadrunners in the post where CSUB scored 40 points in the paint to just 20 for the Mustangs. Zachary Lamb (Jr., Norcross, Ga., Miami-Dade CC) connected on layups and short range jumpers all night to lead CSUB with 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting. Three other 'Runners scored in double digits with Mo Hughley (Jr., Queens Village, N.Y., Paris CC), adding 14 points off the bench on 5 of 5 from the field while Donald Johnson (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Eastern Arizona CC) added 12 points on 3 of 6 shooting and Carter scored 13 points on 5 of 14 shooting.

Carter's 13 points were enough to move him into a tie for 10^th on the Roadrunners all-time scoring list with Wayne McDaniel at 1,050 points. He needs just seven more points to move past Dwuan Rice for 9^th all time with 1.056 points.

Defense was the story for CSUB with the Roadrunners scoring 21 points off 13 Cal Poly turnovers including 8 turnovers in the second half. The 'Runners also recorded eight steals and six blocks on the night.

The win improved CSUB to 12-12 on the season, building on their best season yet at the Division I level while they improved to 7-1 against teams out of the Big West Conference.

 "Right now we just have to continue to win games, hopefully their commissioner or presidents or whoever find out that there's a pretty good team here in Bakersfield," said Barnes. "Right now I've think we've already proven we can compete in the Big West."

The Roadrunners head back out of state Wednesday night as they take on Texas-Pan American in Edinburgh, TX. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. central time.