BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield used a 15-3 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead and never looked back while dominating nearly every facet of the basketball game in a 77-62 win over Grand Canyon Saturday night in a homecoming rout at the Icardo Center.

The win improves CSUB to 20-8 this season, marking the first time the Roadrunners have won 20 games since the 2005-2006 season, their final season as an NCAA Division II program.

Kevin Mays led the Roadrunners with his eighth double-double of the season scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while converting on 9-of-14 shot from the floor including a highlight dunk near the end of regulation to put the finishing touches on CSUB's first win over GCU in the two teams' Division I eras. The 'Runners offense converted on 48% from the field and also shot 7-of-19 from three-point range led by Damiyne Durham who scored 15 points on 5-of-8 from beyond-the-arc.

“I was surprised a little bit with our offensive execution and the way we shot the ball but we've had some really good practices and some guys have been focused on getting better because we've had those games where we felt the offense kept us from winning the game,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “We really wanted to prove ourselves that we could play well on the offensive end against a good team in a big game and I'm just proud of our guys in the way they went about our work today.”

The Roadrunners trailed briefly by five points in the first half but then tied the score at 13 before embarking on the run that would help them build an 11-point first half lead as Dedrick Basile score two of his 12 first-half points right before the halftime buzzer. He led CSUB with 12 in the first half and finished the game with 19 points on 8-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range while also dishing out seven assists and grabbing six rebounds in the win.

“He's a special player, he's just one of those guys that figures it out,” Barnes said of Basile. “He's a big-game guy, he told me last year 'coach don't worry about it, I'm going to come through for you' and he's done that this season.”

GCU was held to just 9-of-24 shooting in the first half and 20-of-49 (41%) in the game from the field and never managed to convert from three-point range around the 'Runners perimeter defense shooting just 3-of-16, good for 18-percent. CSUB opened the second half by building their lead to 15 points and then stretched it to 16 on one of Durham's three second-half three-pointers. He would make another to put the Roadrunners lead at 18 points with less than 11 minutes remaining.

De'Aundre Davis took over the second-half offense for GCU, helping the 'Lopes cut the deficit to 13 on a few occasions but they couldn't manage to get any closer thanks to timely CSUB shooting and a defense that forced 17 turnovers which led to 19 points for the 'Runners. Davis finished the game with a team-high 16 points while leading scorer Josh Braun who entered averaging 18 points per game for GCU, was held to just seven points on 1-of-8 from the field.

Bakersfield outrebounded GCU 40-30 and outscored them in the paint 40 to 30 as well. The Roadrunners also scored 16 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds in the win.

“From the last game (against GCU) we really made some adjustments and I thought our guys really took that well,” Barnes said. “We had a few breakdowns but overall for the 40 minutes of the game, our guys did a really great job.”

CSUB's victory moves them into a second-place tie in the standings with GCU although the 'Runners have already secured the second-seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament. The Roadrunners have one regular-season conference game remaining on Saturday, March 5 when they host Seattle U at 7 P.M.

That night is senior night as CSUB will honor seniors Kevin Mays and Aly Ahmed. Tickets are available by calling the CSUB ticket office at 654-BLUE or online at Vallitix.com.