FRESNO, Calif.- The CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners put their three-game winning streak on the line Wednesday night as they head up Highway 99 to take on Fresno State at the Save Mart Center, tipoff is scheduled for 7 P.M.
This off-and-on rivalry series has taken a turn for the interesting since it was restarted two seasons ago. While Fresno State has won the last two meetings, it has taken the Bulldogs up to the final possession and in one case overtime to do so. In 2013 CSUB overcame an 11-point deficit with 34 seconds remaining to remarkably force overtime but fell 96-86. Last season at the Icardo Center the Roadrunners led by four points with 2:34 to play. Fresno State managed to tie the game with 34 seconds remaining, as the Roadrunners were looking for the final shot, Dashawn Richmond fell to the floor with the basketball, called a timeout that the Roadrunners didn't have and was assessed a technical. Marvelle Harris made both free throws to give the Bulldogs the 63-61win.
The Roadrunners last win against Fresno State was CSUB's first Division I home win, a 65-64 win in 2007. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 7-4 dating back to 1975.
This season the Roadrunners enter on a three-game winning streak and will be playing their third game in five days following a road win at South Dakota on Saturday and a home win against Dartmouth on Monday night. Fresno State is coming off a 71-52 home win over Pacific after a pair of losses on the road at Arizona and Cal Poly.
The Bulldogs are led by senior guard Marvelle Harris who is averaging 18 points per game while shooting 43% from the field this season. He scored 29 points against the Roadrunners last season. Former Missouri forward Torren Jones has bolstered the post for the Fresno State averaging 12 points and a team-best nine rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field.
The Roadrunners have played each of the last two games mostly without leading scorer Damiyne Durham who did not play at South Dakota and saw limited action but didn't score any points against Dartmouth. He leads the 'Runners with 15 points per game and is CSUB's leading three-point threat where he's shooting nearly 40% this season. In his absence the 'Runners have balanced their scoring attack relying heavily on junior guard Dedrick Basile who has scored career highs in each of the last two games following 20 points at South Dakota with 21 points against Dartmouth.
Basile has also helped facilitate the post offense for the 'Runners as Aly Ahmed and Kevin Mays have once again established the low-block scoring for the Bakersfield. Ahmed secured his first double-double of the season on Monday with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Dartmouth, he also scored 16 at South Dakota and is averaging 13 points per game this season. Mays who leads the 'Runners with nine rebounds per contest is also second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game. Mays scored 10 against Dartmouth and 13 at South Dakota.
Tip off for Wednesday's game is scheduled for 7 P.M. and can be heard live on Newstalk 1180 & 96.1 FM KERN beginning with pregame coverage at 6:30.
