Box Score Arlington, Texas- After erasing an 11-point deficit in the second half to take the lead late, the Bakersfield Roadrunners (6-7) dropped their second overtime game of the season Saturday afternoon 79-75 at the College Park Center to UT Arlington.
The Mavericks (5-7) used a 6-0 run over a three-minute span in overtime to build a six-point lead. Bakersfield would cut that deficit to three with 19 seconds left and again to two with just five seconds remaining but two free throws from UT Arlington were enough to hand Bakersfield their sixth road loss of the season.
Erik Kinney (So., Fairfield, Calif., Sacramento HS) hit a jumper and was fouled with five seconds left to give the 'Runners a chance. Kinney banked in the free throw but the official nullified the shot after Kinney stepped over the free-throw line.
Kinney led Bakersfield with a career-high 20 points on7-of-12 shooting while pulling down a career-best nine rebounds as well.
It was a slow shooting night for Bakersfield who managed just 24-of-69 from the field for 34% and 12-of-33 from three-point range. Defensively the Roadrunners managed to contain UT Arlington and hold them below their 82 ppg average keeping the Mavericks at 40% shooting from the field and 36% from three-point range.
“We had our chances and you want to put yourself in a position to win on the road and we had a great shot today,” said head coach Rod Barnes. “We made some shots but they made more plays then we did and we had a couple of break downs there at the end, but I'm proud of our kids I saw a lot of improvement from our team we made some mistakes and bad plays but I saw a lot of good stuff.”
UT Arlington went on an 11-3 run with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half to take an 11-point lead over the Roadrunners. Arlington was 3-3 from three-point range during that stretch. Bakersfield struggled hitting their shots in the first half going just 7-of-26 from the field for 26.9% while they managed just 3-of-14 from three-point range. Brandon Barnes (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Lipscomb) hit a three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to pull Bakersfield within eight at the half.
The Roadrunners trailed by as many as 11 in the second half as well before an 18-9 run tied the game with just over 10 minutes remaining. CSUB would also build a four-point lead with just over three minutes remaining before Arlington's attack at the hoop managed to tie the game on consecutive possessions. After a Lonnie McClanahan layup and foul on Bakersfield, Arlington took a two-point lead before Javonte Maynor knocked down a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to give CSUB a one-point lead. A foul on Kinney put Reger Dowel at the line; he hit his second free throw to force overtime.
In overtime the 6-0 Arlington run was sparked by McClanahan and Brandon Edwards with Edwards scoring four of the points for the Mavericks.
Kinney's 20 led Bakersfield while Brandon Barnes added 18 points on 5-12 shooting and 5-of-12 from three-point range. Grayson added 11 while Javonte Maynor (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) chipped in 10 for Bakersfield.
The Roadrunners have one final non-conference road game as they travel to Idaho State on Saturday, Dec. 18th at 7 P.M. (MST). CSUB opens WAC play on Jan. 4against Utah Valley at Rabobank Arena.
