BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Roadrunners men's basketball opens their 2014-15 season Saturday night with an exhibition game against Whittier College at the Icardo Center. This marks the first appearance at the Icardo Center this season for Bakersfield, who has their official home opener scheduled for November 23.
The Roadrunners will bring in several new faces to the 2014-15 squad after losing over 80-percent of their point production last season. Leading scorer Issiah Grayson graduated and is playing professionally in Italy while regular contributors Brandon Barnes and Stefon Johnson also graduated.
“So many new faces and I don't feel like we've been able to get everything in but we're really impressed with this group and we're excited about this weekend as far as the exhibition and then starting next week,” said head coach Rod Barnes.
Barnes will have a few familiar faces on the floor led by redshirt senior guard Javonte Maynor (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) and center Aly Ahmed (Jr., Alexandria, Egypt). Ahmed was an All-WAC defensive team selection last year while Maynor is the top three-point shooter returning from last season. Other returners include Tyrell Corbin (Sr., Columbia S.C., Salt Lake City CC) who is expected to take over the majority of the point guard duties and big men Abdul Ahmed (Sr., London, England, Trinity Valley CC) and Kregg Jones (R-Sr., St. Georges, Barbados, Army-Navy).
“We have new faces, we also have guys that were here but sat out (Brent Wrapp, Jaylin Airington) so it's been a lot of teaching and a lot of fundamental work,” Barnes said. “As coaches we've really focused on the little things and we've seen progress each week and this team is one of the hungriest teams at this time as far as preparing that we've seen.”
The 'Runners will be facing Whittier in Saturday's exhibition. The Poets are an NCAA Division III program out of the Southern California-based SCIAC. The Poets were 11-14 last season and 5-11 in SCIAC play. Senior guard Nick Demusis returns to lead the Poets after averaging 16.8 ppg last season.
Following Saturday's exhibition the Roadrunners will open the season at the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic at the University of Hawai'i November 14-17. CSUB will face High Point in their first official game on November 14 at 7 P.M. Pacific.
Tickets for Saturday's exhibition against Whittier are available online at Vallitix.com. Reserved seats are $16, general admission is $12 and kid's tickets are just $5 for any seat. Parking is complimentary on campus.
The game will also be available to watch online at GoRunners.com and be carried on the Roadrunner Radio Network starting with the Dignity Health Pregame Show on Newstalk 1180 KERN at 6:30 P.M.
