HONOLULU, Hawaii- The Bakersfield Roadrunners open their 2014-15 season this week at the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic hosted at the University of Hawai'i with CSUB opening their season Friday night against High Point (N.C.) at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
The Roadrunners will also play Hawai'i on Saturday before taking on Arkansas-Pine Bluff to conclude the tournament on Monday on the island of Oahu. This marks Bakersfield's first trip to Hawai'i since appearing in the NCAA Division II West Regionals in 2003.
The 2014 Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary.
"The Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic is a beloved tradition in the community, and we're thrilled to celebrate 50 years of incredible college basketball with this year's tournament," said David Carey, president and CEO at Outrigger Enterprises Group. "While only one team will take home the trophy, everyone in Hawaii wins when the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic comes to town."
Established in 1964 by Red Rocha and Chuck Leahey, the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic has seen nail-biting on-court action and played host to a number of athletes who went on to become some of the biggest names in the game. Over the last 50 years, players have included Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich, Elvin Hayes, and Isiah Thomas, to name a few, as well as some of the game's most illustrious coaches, including Dean Smith (North Carolina), Bob Knight (Indiana), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Larry Brown and Roy Williams (Kansas).
The Roadrunners first game will tip off Friday night at 7 P.M. (PT) against High Point University out of the Big South Conference. The Panthers were 16-15 last season but finished out the year 12-2 and played in the NIT.
They were picked to finish second in this year's Big South preseason poll and return preseason Big South Player of the Year in 6'8” forward John Brown who averaged a conference second-best 20.8 ppg last season in Big South contests.
On Saturday night the Roadrunners will take on host Hawai'i at 9:30 (PT) in a game televised on Oceanic Time Warner. The Warriors were 20-11 last season but lost in the second round of the Big West Tournament to Cal State Northridge. Hawai'i returns seven letter winners from last season and two starters.
Among the returnees is junior forward Isaac Fotu who earned all-conference first-team and all-district second team honors while averaging 14.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg while shooting 58.4% from the field. The Rainbow Warriors recently named Benjy Taylor acting head coach following the abrupt departure of head coach Gib Arnold and assistant Brandyn Akana.
Friday's game will be the first between Bakersfield and Hawai'i in men's basketball.
The Roadrunners will conclude the tournament on Monday taking on Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 7 P.M. (PT) out of the SWAC. The Golden Lions were 16-14 last season and are led by senior guard Marcel Mosley who was recently selected to the preseason All-SWAC second team after averaging 13.4 ppg last season.
All the games can be heard live on Newstalk 1180 KERN beginning Friday night at 6:30 P.M. with the Dignity Health Pre Game Show. Live audio is also available at GoRunners.com.
