KANSAS CITY, MO.- Despite leading by 12 points with 5:32 remaining the CSUB Roadrunners gave up a 17-1 run to the UMKC Kangaroos and were eventually outscored 21-6 for the remainder of the game as the Kangaroos defeated the 'Runners 66-63 Thursday night in Western Athletic Conference action.

Turnovers, poor shot selection and a few defensive breakdowns during that stretch tarnished what was previously a solid effort for the Roadrunners who shot 45% from the field, 44% from three-point range and outrebounded UMKC 37-24. The Roadrunners however relied on guard scoring after both leading post players Aly Ahmed (Jr., Alexandria, Egypt, Midland CC) and Kevin Mays (Jr., Queens, N.Y., Odessa CC) struggled with four trouble throughout the game.

“I thought our guys came out and gave great effort but in the last four or five minutes we had crucial turnovers, we didn't finish, we had opportunities at the basket to make layups and free throws; we just didn't stay strong enough throughout the game to close out,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “They made some shots there at the end that ended up helping them but down the stretch there I thought we fouled too much and put them on the line.”

Bakersfield built a 12-point lead following a Brent Wrapp (R-Fr., Boulder, Colo., Fairview HS) layup. UMKC however answered with a Frank Williams three-pointer before CSUB missed their next four field goals and turned the ball over three times while the 'Roos took the lead for good while on a 17-1 run.

CSUB cut the lead to one point with 44 seconds rebounding following a Dashawn Richmond three-pointer but after two Martez Harrison free throws the lead extended to 66-63. The 'Runners missed a midrange jumper, tracked down the offensive rebound setting up Javonte Maynor (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) for the game-tying three-pointer but the shot was blocked by Collin Jennings.

CSUB led by 12 points three times, UMKC responded with 6-0 runs on the first two occasions. They also went 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from three-point range in the final 3:42 of the first half to cut the Bakersfield lead to six at the half.

The Roadrunners were able to get some post scoring in the second half before Ahmed and Mays were hit with additional fouls. Ahmed fouled out with 3:16 left in the contest with seven points and four rebounds.

“We played most of the game with Aly and Kevin on the bench and we're not a team that's built to win that type of game right there,” Barnes said. “I thought we had some kids that put up a really good effort and I thought we put ourselves in a position to win but we really broke down on some things we talked about.”

CSUB was led by Tyrell Corbin (Sr., Columbia, S.C., Salt Lake City CC) who scored a career second-best 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Dashawn Richmond (Jr., Staten Island N.Y., Broward CC) scored 15 on 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Maynor added 15 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

The Roadrunners (5-14, 1-3 WAC) head to Chicago State (4-16, 0-3 WAC) Saturday for an afternoon contest. The Cougars fell 75-67 to Seattle Thursday night. Saturday's game tips off at 12 P.M. (PT) and can be seen on the WAC Digital Network or heard on Newstalk 1180 and 96.1 FM KERN.