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David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
66
Whittier WCM EXHIBITION
88
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 1-0
Whittier WCM
EXHIBITION
66
Final
88
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Whittier WCM 31 35 66
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 44 44 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

CSUB Earns 22-Point Victory In Season Opener

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A slow start on offense was cancelled out by a solid defensive effort by the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team, which cruised to an 88-66 victory over Whittier College on Friday night in the Icardo Center. The Roadrunners needed 13 minutes to gain their first lead, but never looked back in a comfortable win over the Poets in CSUB's season opener.

"After the first 10 minutes, I thought we got the game under control and started to play the way I think we're capable of playing," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the Roadrunners. "In the second half, I think we came out and did what we needed to do to separate. We didn't close as well as I like, but I was trying to get some guys on the floor in different combinations."

Whittier started out hot, converting on a trio of three-pointers in the first six minutes of the half. The Poets led the `Runners for a good chunk of the the opening period until CSUB gained its first lead, 24-22, with about six minutes left. CSUB's momentum carried through the end of the first half with the `Runners wrapping up the period with a 44-31 lead.

Freshman Jarkel Joiner led all players with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting in the first half while senior Moataz Aly chipped in for 11 points off the bench. Redshirt senior Brent Wrapp hit all five of his free throws and added three steals and assists for CSUB.

The `Runners stormed out of the gate in the second half, using a 13-4 run to open its lead as wide as 22 points in the first four minutes. CSUB continued to dominate and extended its advantage to as many as 31 points.

Joiner added 11 more points in the second half and CSUB outscored WC 44-35 to earn an 88-66 victory to open the season. A freshman from Oxford, Miss., Joiner led all players with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.

Four other `Runners scored double-digit points including 13 from senior Shon Briggs to go along with eight rebounds. Redshirt senior Brent Wrapp only played 22 minutes but recorded nine points, six assists, and three steals against the Poets. Senior center Moataz Aly added 15 points, six rebounds, and four blocks in the contest.

As a team, the `Runners shot 42% from the field, but just 31% from behind the arc. On the other side of the court, Whittier knocked down 38.5% of their three-pointers. Bakersfield out-rebounded Whittier 48-31 while CSUB played savvy defense, committing a mere eight fouls in the game.

"Overall, it was a good game for us," Barnes said. "A win is always a win. We get a chance to move on and head to Statesboro [Georgia] tomorrow."

With the first win of the year under their belts, the `Runners will race across the country for their first road trip of the season. CSUB will meet Georgia Southern on Monday, Nov. 13. After that, the `Runners will head to No. 3 Arizona on Nov. 16.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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