BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- The CSUB Roadrunners (13-5, 3-0 WAC) return home for their 2016 Western Athletic Conference home openers this week beginning on Thursday as they host Texas-Rio Grande Valley (6-13, 2-2 WAC) live on national television from the Icardo Center at 6 P.M.
Both teams enter on the heels of victories, the Vaqueros after losing their first two on the road at Grand Canyon and Utah Valley bounced back for a pair of wins last weekend at home beating Chicago State and then Missouri-Kansas City 71-66 which came on the heels of the Roos' one-point loss at New Mexico State two nights before.
The Roadrunners meanwhile enter riding a five-game winning streak dating back to New Year's Eve when they beat Morgan State, they have also won four road games in a row for the first time in a decade and are 8-0 at home this season with 11-game home winning streak dating back to last season.
The 'Runners opened WAC play with an impressive 3-0 mark, all on the road with victories at Kansas City, Chicago and Seattle. In those road wins, the Roadrunners won by an average of 16 points per game, shooting 50% from the field and 35% from the three. They are also holding opponents to an average of 60 points, and over the five-game winning streak, are holding opponents to just 59 per game.
Defense has been a major reason for Bakersfield's early success as their speed and pressure on the ball has forced teams into early mistakes, allowing Bakersfield to build large double-digit leads in the first half. CSUB has forced 15 turnovers per game through their first three conference games and have also managed an average of 18 assists per game while only turning the ball over an average of 12 times themselves. Scoring has been balanced with four players averaging in double figures in the first three games of WAC play with Aly Ahmed leading the way averaging 20 points-per-game while shooting 62% from the field. Reigning WAC Player of the Week Dedrick Basile is also averaging 18 per contest while shooting 56% from the field and 6-of-18 from three-point range. Redshirt freshman Damiyne Durham, who made six three-pointers at Kansas City in the WAC opener, is averaging 12 per contest for the Roadrunners.
UTRGV enters following their 71-66 win over UMKC last Saturday in Edinburg, Texas. The Vaqueros trailed at halftime of that game but managed to outscore the Roos 42-33 in the second half while holding UMKC to just 33% shooting from the field and a mere 1-of-11 from the outside. UTRGV shot 54% in the second half to win their second straight home game. The Vaqueros are 0-9 this season on the road.
Freshman guard Antonio Green led the way with 16 points in that game on 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point range. Green enters averaging a team second-best 13 points-per-game. Graduate senior Shaquille Boga leads the Vaqueros with 14 points-per-contest while shooting 47% from the field and leading the team with six rebounds per game.
Thursday's game will be available live on the American Sports Network, in Bakersfield on Bright House Networks channel 240, DISH 432 and Direct TV channel 640. Live radio coverage will also be available on Newstalk 1180 and 96.1 FM KERN. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 P.M.
The 'Runners return to the Icardo Center on Saturday night hosting New Mexico State at 7 P.M. Tickets are going fast but still available at Vallitix.com and at the Icardo Center ticket window Friday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
