LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Jaylin Airington and Aly Ahmed each scored 16 points as CSU Bakersfield defeated Chicago State 79-57 in the first round of the WAC Men's Basketball Tournament Thursday night.

Leading by five at halftime, CSUB (the No. 2 seed) opened the second half on a 7-0 run and held Chicago State to seven points in the first 10 minutes of the closing stanza. The Roadrunners forced 12 of the 20 Cougar turnovers in the second half, turning the mistakes into 19 points. Chicago State would shoot 7-of-25 from the field in the final 20 minutes as CSUB made 48% of their second half field goal attempts (12-of-25).

The Roadrunners used their size advantage to get to the free throw line 14 more times than the Cougars (36-22). Airington, a 6-4 forward, was 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Ahmed led CSUB with seven rebounds and tied for the team lead in assists with Dedrick Basile (4).

Ahmed, the 6-9 CSUB center, also made two steals and blocked a shot. Matt Smith came off the bench to go 5-of-6 from the field on his way to an 11-point performance. Smith added two assists, a block, and a steal.

Chicago State (4-28, and the No. 7 seed) was led by Anthony Eaves who had 15 points while Delundre Dixton scored 10 points off the bench. Travyon Palmer grabbed a game high 11 rebounds as Chicago State held the rebounding advantage for the game, 45-35.

CSU Bakersfield (22-8) will play the winner of the game between the No. 3 seed, Seattle U and the No. 6 seed, UTRGV, Friday night at 8:30 p.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~